TheCable

The Niger Delta Avengers say Solomon Dalung, minister of sport, has fallen victim to fraudsters in the region.

During the weekend, Dalung told journalists that he paid a recent visit to Oporoza in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Delta state, and that stakeholders in the community led him to a meeting with avengers.

The minister said the militants gave him a sealed letter to hand over to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“On reaching the community after the two-hour journey on the high sea, I met with members of communities who told me that their dream was to be included in the Nigerian project… they also raised concern of  incessant attacks by the Nigerian military,” he had said.

“After meeting with the communities, Niger Delta ambassadors escorted me a meeting with the leadership of Avengers… As a youth minister, I know there the Avengers are mostly youths who have potentials to be great citizens of this country.”

But in a swift reaction, Jomo Gbomo, spokesman of the avengers, said such meeting did not take place.

“The minister of youths and sports, Solomon Dalung narrated how he met with some self-aclaimed Niger Delta Avengers in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom,” Gbomo said in a statement.

“We are here to let the general public know that Niger Delta fraudsters have defrauded the minister. Niger Delta Avengers can’t stand so low to send representatives to meet with a common minister of youths that doesn’t know his work.

“Let’s make it clear that any meeting with Niger Delta Avengers must be witnessed by the international community, otherwise we will not be part of such dialogue.”