“We have always advocated that the Niger Delta region must speak with a single voice under a single umbrella body, otherwise the much sought-after peace and development shall elude the region, again."
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has disbanded its Aaron Team 2 dialogue and peace initiative headed by Odein Ajumogobia (SAN). The disbanding of the initiative, which was inaugurated on 12 June, was announced in a statement issued by the group.
The action also affects the take-off of “Operation Moses,” which has also been suspended. According to the statement, Aaron Team 2 was disbanded because MEND believed there was a need for the Niger Delta region to have a single voice. This, MEND explained, informed its decision to work with Chief Edwin K. Clark, the Ijaw national leader.
“The disbandment became necessary following MEND's decision to recognize and work with Ijaw National Leader Chief (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark as the leader of a pan-Niger Delta dialogue and peace initiative.
“We have always advocated that the Niger Delta region must speak with a single voice under a single umbrella body, otherwise the much sought-after peace and development shall elude the region, again,” MEND said.
To proceed, the group said it is part of a new collaborative arrangement, which has seen it nominate Ledum Mitee, an Ogoni leader, Ibanga Isine, a journalist, and Timipa Okponipere, a lawyer, to work with Mr. Clark and other stakeholders.
The group, however, told the Clark-led initiative that it was already in preliminary talks with the federal government, as confirmed by President Muhammadu Buhari, urging the new initiative not to deviate from the agreements it had secured from the federal government.
“In fact, we have so far been able to secure a number of concessions, some of which include but are not limited to the release of political prisoners. We expect that Chief Clark and his team shall follow through with the rest of the dialogue and peace process,” it added.
MEND further disclosed that it would monitor the pace of progress of the Clark-led team and reserves the right to recall its nominees after six months.
In addition, MEND condemned the extra-judicial killings and deception by the Bayelsa State government-sponsored militia under the leadership of its former commander, Africanus Ukparasia, also known as General Africa, an ex-militant whose agreement with the Presidential Amnesty Program forbids him from bearing arms for any purpose.
“In flagrant violation and disregard of the unilateral ceasefire recently declared by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), and previously declared ceasefire by MEND to give ongoing peace talks a chance, these soldiers of fortune calling themselves the Bayelsa State Waterways Security Task Force and their military collaborators have been attacking and killing soft targets such as debtors, personal enemies and perceived informants of Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), and cultists,” raged MEND.
It accused the Ukparasia group of displaying corpses of its victims and weapons from the military armory as though such ammunition were recovered.
“Africanus, his thugs and the military are hereby warned to put a stop to their criminal acts and respect the ongoing ceasefire or else he, Africanus, and all his known fixed assets acquired during the fraudulent amnesty period will become legitimate targets.
“Africanus is also warned not to venture close to any MEND camps, as our commanders have been informed to see him as an enemy and defend themselves,” said MEND.
