Nigeria Content Online

The Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has debunked allegations by
Raymond Dokpesi that the group had directed threat messages to him.

MEND said that it
has never issued a statement at Mr Dokpesi or anyone involved with the
coming general elections. “For the record, there has never been a
statement from MEND directed at Chief Dokpesi or anyone involved in the
2011 presidential race,” the group stated. “MEND is apolitical and our
focus remains fighting the injustice in the Niger Delta.”

Mr Dokpesi, the
Chairman of Daar Communications Limited and the Director General of the
presidential campaign for former military president, Ibrahim Babangida,
over the weekend, alleged that threats were issued at him from camps
loyal to the presidential ambition of the incumbent President, Goodluck
Jonathan. He also alleged that the group threatened to kidnap his son.

MEND disowned the threats, stating that Mr Dokpesi “may be
misinformed into believing that statements from an association of
miscreants calling itself the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) with
false claims of affiliation with MEND is true.” “We reiterate that we
have no knowledge of any group known as the Joint Revolutionary Council
or JRC.” It then urged the public to “ignore statements to the
contrary.”