Breaking: Niger Delta Avengers now ready for dialogue

THE Niger Delta Avengers NDA, Monday, agreed to dialogue with the Federal Government, suspending its “Operation Red Economy”, which saw the militant group almost crippling the oil industry since February when it commenced bombing of oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta region.

File: Militants
The decision is contained in a statement on its website signed by its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo.

The Avengers said it was ready to negotiate with the federal government if there are good grounds for such deliberation.

Agbinibo said: “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 multinational 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 group further noted that the NDA is restating its commitment to attack the interest of oil corporation and international refineries operators that bring in vessels to the Niger delta territory to buy oil that every successive government have refused to use and reapply the proceeds towards any development in the region since 1958.

“If they refuse to heed our advice will result to sinking of two their mother vessel as an example to others They should not undertake any repair of pipeline, oil and gas facilities that are 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 the affairs of the Niger Delta. This genuine spirit behind our struggle for the Niger Delta cannot be derailed on the basis of connivance by politicians, 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 save 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 repair 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”

The group’s latest decision is coming a week after the government ordered troops in the oil-rich region to cease fire against the militants.