The Niger Delta Avengers have agreed to dialogue with the Federal Government.
The group thus announced the suspension of its “Operation Red Economy,” which has crippled the oil industry since February.
A statement issued Monday by its spokesman, Brig. Gen Mudoch Agbinibo called on its members to ceasefire pending the outcome of the dialogue with the federal government.
The statement reads in full:
”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. 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.
”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.
”We are using this 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.
”The issues of the Niger delta are as old and as new as the days of Pa. Dappa Biriye, Major Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro, to Ken Saro Wiwa and the government of President Musa Yar’ Adua. We are warning this government of President muhammadu Buhari, not to turn the essence of genuine peace talk and dialogue to political jamboree that is prevailing now where all manner of social media agitators and criminals have being sponsored by the job seeking corrupt political class to safe faces before the government of the day.
”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.”
Meanwhile the Federal Government also on Monday said it has not closed the avenues for negotiations with the new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers, saying it would explore every available opportunity for negotiation so that the group can stop bombing of oil pipelines and platforms.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, stated this at the South-South Town Hall Meeting held at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Kachikwu said there was no theater in the world where conflicts have been resolved through battle, insisting that his mandate as the minister of state for petroleum was to protect oil production and to generate more revenue for the government.
He said the government’s resolve to negotiate with the militant group was not a sign of weakness, stressing that massive bombing of a territory would not articulate a solution to the already exiting problem.
The minister said: “There is no theater in the world where conflicts have been resolved through battle. It doesn’t matter who is right and who is wrong. I have too many objectives in this portfolio and one of them is to protect production and generate the revenue because if we don’t all the things we are talking about here is just a joke.
“I believe that massive bombing of a territory is not going to articulate solution. It has never worked because at the end of the day you will leave with the effects of that destruction. That is probably what has caused most of the problems in the world today.
“This is not issue of weakness. We will explore every avenue for negotiation. The military strength of this country is not in doubt. I think if anybody doubted it, you will see what has happened to Boko Haram.
“But we will first discuss. We will first negotiate but if doesn’t work we will not know what to do. But I have not seen evidence that the avenues for negotiations have closed. We are making a dramatic progress and I will like to push those frontiers.”
FG Still Open To Dialogue With Niger Delta Avengers – Kachikwu
Similarly, the Federal Government on Monday said it has not closed the avenues for negotiations with the new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers, saying it would explore every available opportunity for negotiation so that the group can stop bombing of oil pipelines and platforms.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, stated this at the South-South Town Hall Meeting held at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Kachikwu said there was no theater in the world where conflicts have been resolved through battle, insisting that his mandate as the minister of state for petroleum was to protect oil production and to generate more revenue for the government.
He said the government’s resolve to negotiate with the militant group was not a sign of weakness, stressing that massive bombing of a territory would not articulate a solution to the already exiting problem.
The minister said: “There is no theater in the world where conflicts have been resolved through battle. It doesn’t matter who is right and who is wrong. I have too many objectives in this portfolio and one of them is to protect production and generate the revenue because if we don’t all the things we are talking about here is just a joke.
“I believe that massive bombing of a territory is not going to articulate solution. It has never worked because at the end of the day you will leave with the effects of that destruction. That is probably what has caused most of the problems in the world today.
“This is not issue of weakness. We will explore every avenue for negotiation. The military strength of this country is not in doubt. I think if anybody doubted it, you will see what has happened to Boko Haram.
“But we will first discuss. We will first negotiate but if doesn’t work we will not know what to do. But I have not seen evidence that the avenues for negotiations have closed. We are making a dramatic progress and I will like to push those frontiers.”