According to Premium Times, The Niger
Delta Avengers, a group that has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on
oil and gas installations across the Niger Delta, says it is ready to engage
the Nigerian government in dialogue.
But the group has given stringent conditions for any talks.
It is the first time the group has shown any interest discussing
with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The latest decision came barely a week after the government
ordered troops in the oil-rich region to end onslaught against the militants.
In a statement signed by the its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, the
Avengers said it was ready to negotiate with the government if there are good
grounds for such deliberation.
The group, however, said it was yet to see any signs the
government had made new concessions.
“The high command of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is using
this medium to restate that there are no new items to put on the table for
dialogue, we only want a genuine attitude and conducive atmosphere that will
make us commit to any proposed dialogue and last peace talk,” Mr. Agbinibo
wrote in a statement posted on the Avengers’ Web site Monday afternoon.
“We want the federal government to commit members states of the
multi national oil corporations to commit independent mediators to this
proposed dialogue; we believed that it is only such environment that will
engender genuine dialogue that will be aimed at setting up a framework for
achieving the short, medium and long term demands of the Niger delta to
de-escalating this conflict and bring about a lasting peace.”
In the
meantime, the group said it would continue its assymetrical attacks on oil
facilities on all delta states.
“The NDA high command is restating our commitment to attack the
interest of oil corporation and international refineries operators that bring
in vessels to the Niger delta territory to buy our oil that every successive
government have refused to used and reapply the proceeds towards any
development in the region since 1958. If they refuse be heed to our advice will
result to sinking of two their mother vessel as an examples to others They
should not undertake any repair of pipeline, oil and gas facilities that is
damaged or attacked by our forces during this period of “Operation Red Economy”
until and/or after the dialogue.”
The Avengers further stated that it was aware of a campaign to
discredit its activities on social media, warning the government and others
involved to be wary of dubious politicians.
“We are using medium to warn and condemn the activities of all
brands of social media agitators being peddled around by some politicians to
promote their criminal ways in affairs of the Niger Delta. This genuine spirit
behind our struggle for the Niger Delta cannot be derailed on the basis of
connivance by politician, traditional rulers, settled ex- agitators and
criminals moving around to fill their pockets.”
In a strange turn, however, the group indicated that it may
review its long-standing campaign to spare human lives in the course of its
agitation, urging the government and oil companies across the region to desist
from carrying out further repairs of vandalised oil installations.
“Finally, if need be we may review our earlier stance of not
taking lives. We are going to redirect and reactivate all our activities if the
government, oil companies and their services firms don’t heed to these modest
warnings of not carrying out any repairs works and suspend the buying of crude
oil from our region as we await the right atmosphere that will engender genuine
dialogue.
“We want a peace with honour, not a peace of our time.”
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