Defunct militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has called on its counterpart, Niger Delta Avengers to lay down its arms and negotiate with the Federal Government.
In a statement signed by Jomo Gbomo on Sunday, the former agitator said despite the several attacks by the resurgent militant group, the Niger Delta region still remained persist and as such should explore other options.
The statement reads, “Our message to the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, is simple: The Niger Delta struggle is beyond attacks on oil installations.
“Indeed, prior to the MEND ceasefire; the group had, among numerous daring attacks, on Thursday, June 19, 2008, successfully carried out the spectacular attack on Royal Dutch Shell’s offshore Bonga oilfield which is located at a whooping distance of 120 kilometres (75miles) south-west of the Niger Delta.”
“If indeed your cause is to avenge the injustice done to the Niger Delta region; then, we urge you to ceasefire and join us to the table of negotiation with the Federal Government; otherwise, the Niger Delta struggle shall be hijacked, once again, by selfish interests for their own personal aggrandizement,”
Unveiling a negotiation team, Aaron Team 2 that will dialogue with the Federal Government, MEND explained that the formation of the team was based on the discussions held with high profile members of the current government on the future of the Federal Government.
The former militant group identified members of the negotiation team to include, Henry Odein Ajumogobia SAN (Rivers); Bismark Rewane (Delta); Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa (Cross River); Timipa Jenkins Okponipere (Bayelsa); Ibanga Isine (Akwa Ibom); Ledum Mitee (Rivers); and Lawson Omokhodion (Edo State).
Commentaires