Militants divided over talks with FG

A Niger Delta militant group, Ultimate Warriors, who claims to be speaking for other groups in the oil rich region, dismissed the government’s decision to hold talks with MEND alone.

According to Vanguard, the group’s spokesman, Sibiru Taiowoh, said “We are by this statement, however, giving the Federal Government a three- week ultimatum to name its own dialogue team, comprising of renowned foreign observers and delegations from the European Union.

“After the government had named its dialogue team, we and others, under the Supreme Council through the government of the Niger Delta states, will name our representatives.”

They also said the President is not being truthful about the much talked about dialogue with militants.

Adding that “Whatever the President is hiding should be made bare. They talk so sweetly when they face the international community or they have foreign visitors, but lack the will to do the just and equitable thing in the region. They should stop this deceit and face the reality.

“This is a propaganda taken too far. How can he say the international oil companies, IOCs, are reaching out to the militants groups when even the government has not been able to do so? So it is the IOCs that are wasting billion of dollars to pay soldiers to secure their facilities that now have the means to talk with agitating militant groups more credibly than Nigeria state.”

The militants also commended the South South/South East Lawmakers Forum for lending their voice to the Niger Delta struggle, saying “We want to use this medium to salute the dogged and bold steps taken by the South South/South East Lawmakers Forum for lending their voice to one of our core demands- the allocation of 65 percent oil blocs to Niger Delta people. “

Adding that “We actually demanded 60 per cent of the oil blocs but in their wisdom they decided to up it to 65 per cent, which is still a fair deal to us by the Nigeria nation state. The position of the lawmakers only shows that they are at home with us on this struggle.”

The Department of State Services (DSS) recently announced that it has arrested Jones Abari, aka Gen. Akotebe Darikoro, the leader of Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force ( JNDLF).