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****** Nigeria: Militants Extend Ceasefire By 30 Days ******
Ahamefula Ogbu
17 September 2009
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Port Harcourt — Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)
announced yesterday that attacks on oil installations would not resume after
its 60-day ceasefire ended Tuesday midnight.
Instead, the militant group has extended the truce period by 30 days.
It claims the Federal Government amnesty programme does not give room for
"meaningful dialogue". The one month period will give time for more talks, said
the group's Spokesman, Gbomo Jomo.
But informed sources told THISDAY that the capacity of MEND might have been
severely affected because some of its leaders had dumped militancy for the
Federal Govern-ment amnesty programme.
Among them are Kile Silkey Torughedi aka Young Shall Grow, who was in charge of
the Southern Ijaw arm and considered the most armed, General Boyloaf and
Africa.
Others who have also quit are Soboma George and the Mciver boys. They all
turned in their weapons.
Sources say talks are ongoing with Farah Dagogo who is expected to hand in his
weapons within the next 10 days.
Besides, the Minister of Defence, Major Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd), met with
Government Ekpemukpolo aka Tompolo and Ateke Tom of the Niger Delta Vigilante
Movement (NDVM), last Sunday to persuade them to come on board before the
October 4 deadline.
"Young Shall Grow and other MEND commanders have already submitted their arms
and embraced the amnesty. Farah is talking with us; Ateke is talking with us so
who is going to carry out the attack for MEND?" Asked the source.
He added that "we should be talking about peace and development in the region
instead of more attacks. What does anybody stand to gain by that?"
When THISDAY contacted Jomo on alleged resumption of attack, he laughed out
loud and said in the early hours of yesterday that a statement would be issued,
giving a definite position on the issue.
But he had earlier said that the issue of attack was a top secret and security-
related for which he would not discuss until they had hit spots on their list.
The statement partly reads: "MEND does not recognize an amnesty that has not
made any provision for meaningful dialogue on the root issues that gave birth
to the Niger Delta unrest in the first place.
"We have therefore resolved to continue fighting because the reasons for
fighting have not yet been addressed. The government should use this extension
of time to do the right thing instead of pretending to talk peace while arming
the military for a war it cannot win."
According to the group, the oil and gas industry would bear the brunt of
renewed hostilities.
The Federal Government offered amnesty in June to militant groups who turned in
their weapons.
Frequent attacks on oil installations have cost the country lots of money in
oil revenue.
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