According to Saharareporters, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed in a statement that a team negotiating on behalf of the Federal Government for a return of peace to the oil-rich delta had agreed to release several detained or imprisoned militants,
The statement disclosed that Mr. Kanu and
other detained IPOB activists would be released on condition that they renounce
their agitation for secession.
According to MEND, ex-Senator Adolphus Wabara
had introduced the compromise to secure the release of the pro-Biafran
agitators.
MEND also stated that the government’s
negotiators had agreed not to arrest or harass fugitive ex-MEND militant,
Government Ekpemupolo (popularly known as Tompolo),
“whenever he makes himself available as a delegate of the MEND Aaron
Team 2.”
In addition, the group stated that the
government would review the life sentence meted out on Edmund Ebiware.
MEND declared itself the only militant group
from the Niger Delta region presently engaged in a dialogue with the Federal
Government of Nigeria, adding that oil companies and security agencies were
representing the government in talks aimed at brokering peace in the region
which has witnessed increasing attacks on oil facilities since President
Muhammadu Buhari came to power in May 2015.
MEND stated that the agreement called for a
review of “criminal charges against
Urhobo freedom fighter, Mr. Kelvin Prosper Oniarah,” and the review of life
sentences handed to seven soldiers in 2008 for supporting the Niger Delta
struggle.
The affected soldiers are Major Suleiman
Alabi Akubo, Sergeant Mathias Peter, Lance Corporal Alexander Davou, Lance
Corporal Moses Nwaigwe, Lance Corporal Nnandi Anene, Lance Corporal Taatihi
Emmanuel, and Private Caleb Bawa.
Declaring the deliberations “fruitful,” MEND seemed to back military
reprisals against the Niger Delta Avengers should the group refuse to stop
attacking oil installations in the area.
MEND’s
statement declared, “one of the most
immediate and urgent fall-outs of the ongoing dialogue is the imperative for
the Federal Government and MEND to jointly and separately take proactive steps
to rescue and secure the region in the event that the recalcitrant Niger Delta
Avengers (NDA) continue on their senseless and politically-motivated path of
attacks on the country's oil assets.
“To this end, both parties agreed that the Special Forces of the
Nigerian Army should commence the purely routine but strategic military
exercise code-named ‘Operation Crocodile
Tears’; while MEND would commence a meet-the Government-Actors-and-People
tour of the Niger Delta region code-named ‘Operation
Moses.’”
“While ‘Operation Crocodile Tears’ is aimed at ensuring the combat
readiness of the Nigerian Army in Amphibious and Internal Security Operations
in the Niger Delta as well as checkcriminal activities like kidnapping,
pipeline vandalism, piracy and other forms of criminal activities spearheaded
by the NDA in the region,
MEND's ‘Operation Moses’ is essentially to inform, educate and
generally sensitize the citizenry in the Niger Delta, particularly the
Government, the youth, oil companies, elders and militant community on the need
to ceasefire and support the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration in its
determined bid to proffer sustainable solutions to the current Niger Delta
crisis.”
MEND urged all states, local governments, oil
and gas companies and the people of the Niger Delta region
“to go about their lawful and legitimate concerns without any iota
of fear as we have received FIRM ASSURANCES from the Federal Government that
‘Operation Crocodile Tears’ is an innocuous exercise in the national interest,” the
statement continued
It added, “Meanwhile, MEND's ‘Operation Moses’ shall
be anchored by the AARON TEAM 2 Dialogue, Peace & Development Initiative
jointly led by Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN) and HRH King Alfred Papapreye
Diette-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass in Bayelsa State.
“’Operation Moses’ shall commence with a visit by the
distinguished members of the AARON TEAM 2 to President Muhammadu Buhari at the
State House, Abuja between August 22, 2016 and August 26, 2016.
“Thereafter, the Team shall hold sessions with top executives of
major indigenous and international oil & gas companies operating in
Nigeria, including the state oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) on August 29 and 30, 2016 in Abuja.
The focus of those sessions shall include, to wit: Local content
development; Petroleum Industry Bill; Corporate Social Responsibility/Host
community relations, etc.
“On September 5 and 6, 2016 in Abuja the MEND Aaron Team shall
hold sessions with the top echelon of security agencies in Nigeria as well as
the top management of the intervention agencies in the Niger Delta, namely:
Ministry of Niger Delta; Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
and the Presidential Amnesty Office. The Minister of Justice/Attorney General
of the Federation is expected to personally attend these sessions.
The focus of the sessions shall include: Extension of presidential
amnesty to certain categories of political prisoners in Nigeria; Fundamental
Human Rights; NDDC Act in focus; Presidential Amnesty Proclamation 2009 in
focus; collapse of federal infrastructure in the Niger Delta in focus;
Calabar-Lagos rail line in focus; East/West Road in focus, etc.
“After these critical sessions, "Operation Moses" shall
move to tour the 9 states in the Niger Delta region, commencing with Rivers
state between September 12, 2016 and September 14, 2016. Between September 15,
2016 and September 18, 2016 the Aaron Team shall be in Bayelsa state.
Between September19, 2016 and September 21, 2016 the Team shall be
in Delta state. From Thursday September 22, 2016 to Sunday September 25, 2016
the Aaron Team shall be in Akwa Ibom state.
Between September 26, 2016 and September 29, 2016 the Team shall
be in Abia and Imo states. And finally, between October 3, 2016 and October 7,
2016 the Aaron Team shall be in Edo and Ondo states.
“The central clearing house for all activities connected with
"Operation Moses" shall be the MEND Aaron Team 2 secretariat.
Accordingly, the Secretary of the Team, Timipa Jenkins Okponipere, Esq., shall
duly communicate with all concerned persons and institutions.
“Ultimately, peace and development in the Niger Delta region is
the final destination of the ongoing dialogue between MEND and the Federal
Government.”
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