A faction of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND has disowned the proposed “operation Babarosa” which threatened bombing of Mosques and Islamic Centers as retaliation for the Boko Haram Bombings of churches and killings of Christians in Northern Nigeria.
The MEND faction also warned the Leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Asari Dokubo to desist from making uncomplimentary remarks against the group or face its wrath.
In a statement signed by one Comrade Timi Azizi, MEND said the group under the leadership of Henry Okah, does not have any spokesperson named Jomo Gbomo noting, “ the operation Barbarossa is an imagination of the “old brigade” trying to gain relevance.”
The statement reads:
“Once again, our attention has been drawn to a publication allegedly issued by us (MEND- OKAH) on the April 14, 2013 at 20:34 code named Operation Barbarossa by one acclaimed Jomo Gbomo.
“The MEND under the leadership of Comrade Henry Okah wishes to state clearly herein that we do not have a spokesperson by name Jomo Gbomo in our ranks and files and that the high command and loyal foot soldiers of MEND-OKAH are not associated with these operations.
“Our primary objectives at present are as follows (a) to secure the release of our leader (Comrade Henry Okah) and other members of our fraction in various detention centers in the country, Compensate families of our members killed by the security agencies, Withdraw all military personnel (JTF) and tanks in the region then hand over the control (total) of our resources back to us.
“As the spokesperson to Comrade Henry Okah, I wish to assure Niger Deltans and Nigerians at large that the operation Barbarossa is an imagination of the “old brigade” trying to gain relevancy hence we strongly advise this so called Jomo Gbomo to desist from this acts and stop using the name of Henry Okah as a reason(s) for their criminal activities or else we will fish them out and hand them over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
“As for Mujaheed Asari Dokubo, Henry owes you nothing rather you should have been grateful to his person for all he did for you, before you came in contact with him, you were a no-body, we are watching, mind your utterance as we might come for you someday for our pay cheque.
“For those saying that the MEND no longer exists, we all know it’s not true; MEND is strongly rooted in all the Southern States of the Federation and beyond, soon we will take decisions against those that betrayed the struggle and the region.”