The Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group attacking oil installations in Bayelsa and its environs have disassociated itself from the attack on a military houseboat in which two soldiers and six civilians were killed on Wednesday.

The militant group condemned the killing, calling on all other ‘freedom fighters’ to desist from bloodshed and kidnapping while agitating for their demands.

A statement posted on the group’s website held that “killing of sleeping soldiers is not the group’s style.

The statement signed by Brid.Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, the group’s self-acclaimed spokesman said: “The Niger Delta Avengers were not involved in the attack of the Military houseboat around Warri, Delta State. Killing of sleeping Soldiers is not our style. We promise the world that in this Process of liberating our People, not a single blood of Nigeria soldiers will be wasted despite the provocation.

“Even the inhumane Nigeria soldiers are exempted, our war is on oil installations not to take innocent lives. For the fact we can’t give life, we also don’t have the power to take any life. But we (Avengers) are assuring the families of the affected soldiers that we will bring the culprits to book.

“When it’s time to face the military in combat let the whole world know that we won’t be the ones to throw the first punch.

“This message is going to all groups parading themselves as freedom fighters. You can fight for your people without killing innocent souls NDA have proved it. We were able to drop Nigeria Oil production from 2million Barrels to just 800,000 barrels without killing a soul.

“We are warning every group to follow our footsteps. The days of Killing and Kidnapping are over.”

In recent times, the Niger Delta Avengers have wreaked a lot of havoc on the oil installations in the country, bringing its oil production to its lowest in 20 years. They have blown up a number of pipelines, the most recent of which are Chevron’s Bibi Oil Well RMP 23 and RMP which were blown up in the early hours of Wednesday.