A civil society organization, New Initiative for Leadership (NICL) has alleged that Niger Delta activist, Ann-kio Briggs is supporting militants – The CSO said Briggs’s statement that the militants are fighting injustice is an agenda backed by prominent people to destroy.
Ann-kio Briggs have been accused of supporting an emerging militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers. The New Initiative for Leadership (NICL) in a statement said Briggs is tactically supporting the group by endorsing their activities within the Niger Delta region. The activist had on Sunday, May 15, said the Niger Delta militants are fighting economic and environmental injustice meted out to them by the federal government.
But in a statement, the national coordinator of the NICL, Steve Onwu said Briggs’ interview is an agenda backed by prominent people to destroy Nigeria. “It is frightening that Ann-kio Briggs did not for once in the interview condemn these criminals for what they are but was instead promoting them as right fighters.
This is not a surprise to anyone as she threatened as far back as 2013 and later in February of last year that militancy will resume in the region for the people of Niger Delta to take ownership of the crude oil fields,” Onwu said.
Onwu also called on the Nigerian government to revisit allegations by the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo of accusing Briggs of secretly training snipers and other armed personnel and also acquiring weapons for use against Nigeria.
“Briggs had also threatened immediately after former President Goodluck Jonathan lost the election that it was time for the Niger Delta to secede and this was after Nigerians refused to be cowed by ethnic threats from some section of the Niger Delta that the country will boil if their son loses the presidential election.
“She had also threatened mayhem if the military is not withdrawn from the Niger Delta and suspects with corruption cases pending in court are not left off the hook,” he said. Onwu also said his organization is worried at the level of international support garnered by the emerging group.
“The federal government must not threat this ugly development as the activities of opportunistic criminals as the signs are far more ominous and Annkio Briggs’ interview has only served to reinforce this. Beyond the military that is going after the rebels, steps must be taken on other fronts to eradicate this latest threat to Nigeria’s corporate existence,” Onwu added.
