The Movement for
the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) says President Muhammadu Buhari is
right to have said that the federal government was discussing with militants
through oil companies and law enforcement agents.
President Muhammadu Buhari had said on Thursday that his
administration was “talking with Niger Delta militants through oil companies
and law enforcement agencies”, to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the
region.
However, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) issued a denial the
following day, saying “President Buhari-led government is not sincere to
the Nigeria people and their foreign allies”.
“The truth is that we are not aware of any peace talk,” it
said. “If there is any such peace talk, it means the president is talking
to their mercenaries set to disturb the genuine struggle of the agitators.”
But responding on Sunday, MEND confirmed that it had indeed been
holding “preliminary talks” with the federal government.
It said militant groups such as the avengers were excluded because
they belong to the group of “criminals” whome the federal government had said
from start that it would never dialogue with.
“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)
wishes to confirm that indeed it has been in preliminary talks with
the Federal Government through oil companies and law-enforcement
agencies as revealed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, July 21,
2016,” read a statement issued by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo.
“These preliminary talks are the precursor to a wider
dialogue between the Federal Government and the MEND Aaron 2 peace
initiative
which will seek to find solutions to the short, medium and long-term future of the Niger Delta region.
which will seek to find solutions to the short, medium and long-term future of the Niger Delta region.
“The Federal Government made it clear during our meetings
that negotiations with criminals is out of the question.
“The Niger Delta Avengers, internet-based ‘militant’ groups such
as Joint Revolutionary Council, Ultimate Warriors etc, an Ijaw
opportunistic tribal assembly who were compromised to keep silent during the 6 years of Goodluck Jonathan’s misrule and neglect,
pirates, pipeline vandals, oil thieves, commercial kidnappers, waterway robbers, political thugs and miscreants all fall under this
category.”
opportunistic tribal assembly who were compromised to keep silent during the 6 years of Goodluck Jonathan’s misrule and neglect,
pirates, pipeline vandals, oil thieves, commercial kidnappers, waterway robbers, political thugs and miscreants all fall under this
category.”
-Thecable
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