Federal Government, currently engaged in a dialogue through the oil companies
and security agencies to end renewed bombings in the oil-rich Niger Delta,
seem to have reached far-reaching compromises, including the possible release
of a former militant leader, Henry Okah, from prison in South Africa, and his
brother, Charles Okah, incarcerated in Nigeria.
Militants vs Buhari
They were also said to have agreed that ex-militant leader, Government
Ekpemupolo , alias Tompolo, would not be harassed by government if he makes
himself available as a delegate on MEND Aaron Team 2, while the leader of the
Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, would be released on condition
that he renounces the agitation for “Biafra Republic.”
MEND, in a statement by spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, yesterday, announced
the resolutions to end the revolt in the South-South and South East
regions. The statement came on a day security forces were said to be
deploying into strategic positions in the Niger Delta to prepare to use force
against militants if peace talks failed. However, MEND said the recalcitrant
Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, still has opportunity to embrace peace, failing which
a combination of military forces and volunteers in the region would smoke
them out.
The statement said: “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
(MEND) is the only militant group from the Niger Delta region presently engaged
in a dialogue with the Federal Government of Nigeria - through oil companies
and security agencies - with a view to resolving the current Niger Delta crisis.
“Thus far, the deliberations have been fruitful, various concessions and
guarantees have already been secured, some of which include but not limited
to the release of Henry Okah, Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze; review of the
life sentence handed to Mr. Edmund Ebiware based on a proposal put forward
by the Aaron Team representative for Abia and Imo states, Senator Adolphus
Wabara;
conditional release of IPOB leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and others if they renounce
their agitation for a ‘Biafra Republic’”. Furthermore, MEND said they agreed
that Mr. Government Ekpemupolo shall not be arrested, harassed and/or
intimidated whenever he makes himself available as a delegate of the MEND
Aaron Team. The statement went on: “That international arbitrator and conflict
negotiator, American Dr. Judith Asuni, shall be accepted as the representative of
the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) on the MEND Aaron Team; that the criminal
charges against Urhobo freedom fighter, Mr. Kelvin Prosper Oniarah, shall be
reviewed.
“That the life sentence which was handed to seven soldiers in 2008, who
actively supported the Niger Delta struggle, be reviewed under the Presidential
Amnesty Programme. The affected persons are: Suleiman Alabi Akubo, Major.
Mathias Peter, Sgt Alexander Davou, L.cpl. Moses Nwaigwe, L.cpl. Nnamdi
Anene, L.cpl. Taatihi Emmanuel, L.cpl Caleb Bawa, PTE.
“However, one of the most immediate and urgent fallouts 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. This is in the
event that the recalcitrant Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, continues its 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’.
“‘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 check criminal activities like kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, piracy
and other forms of criminal activities spearheaded by the NDA in the Niger Delta
as well as check criminal 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
sensitise 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.
“Consequently, MEND urges all states, local governments, oil and gas
companies and law-abiding citizens in 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.
“Meanwhile, MEND’s ‘Operation Moses ‘shall be anchored by the Aaron Team 2
Dialogue, Peace and Development Initiative, jointly led by Mr. Odein Ajumogobia,
SAN, and HRH King Alfred Papapreye Diette-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon-
Brass in Bayelsa State.
*No confirmation yet, says Presidency
ABUJA-Presidency has said it was not formerly in the know of any agreement
with the MEND as claimed by the Body. MEND had in a statement on Saturday
stated that its conditions for peace included the release of Henry Okah from a
South African prison, his brother, Charles Okah and the Leader of IPOB, Nnamdi
Kanu from detention. It also needed assurance from the government that
Tompolo would not be arrested when he showed up for the negotiations with
the federal government.
But speaking through the Senior Special Assistant to President Mohammadu
Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu on the latest statement by MEND on the stage of
the peace talks, the presidency said it was yet to get a confirmation of the
supposed truce. Shehu said that the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA
was yet to receive confirmation on the matter as at the time of filing this report.
According to him, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe
Kachikwu who was a stakeholder in the matter could not be reached on his cell
phone. “I have been trying to get the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe
Kachikwu, on phone. But he did not pick his calls. And the NSA’s office has no
confirmation as at now. May be, later. But as at now, the NSA’s office has no
confirmation of such agreement to give me”, Shehu told Sunday Vanguard on
phone.Vanguard
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