The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) says it is
currently in talks with the Federal government. The group made this
known in a statement it released yesterday July 24th. The statement in
part reads;
“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to
confirm that indeed it has been in preliminary talks with the Federal
Government through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies as
revealed by President Buhari on Thursday, July 21, 2016.
These preliminary talks are the precursor to a wider
dialogue between the Federal Government and the MEND Aaron 2 peace
initiative which will seek to find solutions to the short, medium and
long-term future of the Niger Delta region.”MEND in its statement said the government made it clear that it would
not negotiate with criminals such as Niger Delta Avengers,
internet-based ‘militant’ groups such as Joint Revolutionary Council,
the Ultimate Warriors, pirates, pipeline vandals, oil thieves,
commercial kidnappers, waterway robbers, political thugs amongst others.