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‘You Have Just 2 Weeks To Dialogue’ – MEND Threatens Buhari With More Attacks

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Resurrected militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has, on Sunday, July 10, 2016, issued a two-week ultimatum for the President Muhammadu Buhari to kick-start a dialogue with the group or else it would begin attacks on oil installations.

According to a report by Eagle Online, MEND says that dialoguing with the militants is the”only way to end the bombing of oil installations and Niger Delta militancy” in the oil-rich region of southern Nigeria. The group said that government should negotiate with it’s ‘Aaron Team’ and should include embattled former warlord, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo in the negotiations.

In a statement signed by the group’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, MEND cautioned the federal government of using the office of the national security adviser in co-ordinating the negotiations with militant groups in the region saying that the Niger Delta issue is in the “exclusive legislative list”.

The group also said that dialogue sessions should not be turned into interrogations, warning that the current wave of attacks on oil installations in the region are just an “elementary course” and that more attacks would be launched if the government failed to dialogue within the two week window.

“MEND had repeatedly reiterated that the Niger Delta struggle was beyond attacks on oil installations. In fact, destruction of oil and gas pipelines is an elementary course in guerilla warfare, which can be carried out by any militant group,” it said.

MEND did not fail to take a swipe rival militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, who they described as “criminals,” saying that the the Avengers is into militancy for their personal gains. The group warned that negotiation with the Avengers would be fruitless.

“MEND is not opposed to government’s plan to negotiate with the recalcitrant Niger Delta Avengers through the office of the national security adviser. Government must, however, not delude itself into thinking that negotiation with the Niger Delta Avengers was tied to the resolution of the Niger Delta question.

“Government is at liberty to negotiate with arm-twisting unions and criminal groups like the NDA, so long as such negotiations are done in the national interest.

“Negotiation with Niger Delta Avengers is merely a temporary respite, as another opportunistic group is lurking in the shadows, but dialogue and resolution of the Niger Delta question will be a sustainable solution for all stakeholders.

MEND expressed displeasure that successive governments and the International Oil Companies operating in the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta had repeatedly reneged on agreements entered into with the people of the region.

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