Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed 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, including Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peoples of
Biafra, Henry Okah, a MEND chieftain serving a jail sentence in South
Africa, Charles Okah, and Obi Nwabueze.
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.’”
The statement continued:
“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 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 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.”
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.”
SAHARA REPORTER
