The Movement for the Emancipation
of the Niger Delta (MEND) has claimed that as a part of negotiation deal on
Niger Delta crisis the government of Muhammadu Buhari agreed to release the
leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Vanguard reports that
according to the agreement, other imprisoned militants to be freed are Henry
Okah, a MEND chieftain serving a jail sentence in South Africa, Charles Okah,
and Obi Nwabueze. The statement revealed that Kanu and other detained IPOB
activists would be discharged on condition that they renounce their agitation
for secession. Former senator Adolphus Wabara had reportedly introduced the
compromise to secure the release of the pro-Biafran activists. MEND also noted
that the government’s treaters had agreed not to arrest or harass fugitive
Niger Delta war lord Government Ekpemupolo (popularly known as Tompolo),
“whenever he makes himself available as a delegate of the MEND Aaron Team 2.”
The movement also demanded the government to review the life sentence bounded
on Edmund Ebiware. The group further announced itself the only militant group
from the region currently involved in a dialogue with the incumbent
administration continuing that oil companies and security agencies were
representing the government in negotiations aimed at brokering peace in the
region which has witnessed increasing attacks on oil facilities since President
Buhari’s inauguration last year. MEND noted that the deal 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 battle. The soldiers include 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. Should the Niger Delta Avengers refuse to stop attacks
on oil and gas facilities MEND seemed to back military reprisals against them.
The statement reads: “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. “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
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