Militant group the Niger Delta Avengers late this afternoon claimed the death of about 50 soldiers sent to the creeks of the Niger Delta to hunt down the militants whose recent sabotage of oil facilities is threatening to bring the country’s economy to its knees.

The Avengers, however, washed their hands of the purported death of the soldiers, blaming it on Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, saying in a tweet from its official Twitter handle: “The Chief of Army Staff deployed personnel without amphibious training to the creeks that led to the death of about 50 soldiers. If not for the help of local fishermen the death rate should have been up to 100.”

The Nigeria Army is yet to respond to the claim.

In another tweet, the group said: “Nigeria Military also lied that Niger Delta Avengers kill soldiers. We havnt engage in combat wth them bt if they want us to kill them let them come after us.”

The Avengers in yet another tweet dismissed reports of the arrest of 10 of their members, saying: “Our attention has the drawn to the arrest of 10 @NDAvengers boys by Nigeria Military. None of our Strike team has been arrested its all a lie.”

•Photo shows Lt.-Gen. Buratai.