A first-generation Niger Delta militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has weighed into the renewed restiveness in the oil-rich region of southern Nigeria.
In a statement, which resurrects its famous spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, MEND criticised the new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers, waging a campaign against oil production in Nigeria and warned “communities harbouring” members of the Niger Delta Avengers to immediately stop collaborating with the militants.
MEND warned the communities to realise that they are not protected by “the extant principles of international and or municipal law during a conflict” and said that the Avengers attacks on pipelines were “unprovoked”.
The group commended President Muhammadu Buhari, whom it endorsed in the 2015 elections, for taking a first step to cleaning up the devastated Ogoniland and slammed former President Goodluck Jonathan saying even though he is from the Niger Delta, his six years in office did not benefit Ogoni.
This statement, released on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 comes a day after Nigeria’s minister of state for petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu announced that the federal government had set up a committee to negotiate with the Niger Delta militants.
“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) notes with grave concern the recent renewed spate of unprovoked and persistent attacks on Nigeria’s oil installations by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA),” Gbomo said.
“What are more worrisome to us is the ungodly conspiracy of silence of the region’s elite and their tacit support of the NDA’s conduct under the pretext of a so-called.
“However, we hereby remind our communities, which harbour criminals such as members of the NDA that their communities are not protected by the extant principles of international and/or municipal law during a conflict.”
The MEND Factor
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