The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)
on June 12, Sunday, revealed that some of its ex commanders and fighters are
amongst the founding members of the Niger Delta Avengers.
The group stated that on countless occasions in the past 10
years of the MEND’s existence, it had taken up weapons against the Nigerian
state and the global oil companies with a view to bringing to national and
world attention, the pathetic paradox of the oil-rich region.
Members of the team are: Henry Odein Ajumogobia SAN
(Rivers); Bismark Rewane (Delta); Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa (Cross River); Timipa
Jenkins Okponipere (Bayelsa); Ibanga Isine (Akwa Ibom); Ledum Mitee (Rivers);
and Lawson Omokhodion (Edo state).
Jomo Gbomo, the spokesperson of the group, in a statement
said that the move came after useful preliminary talks held with high-ranking
officials of the incumbent government.
The statement further read: “Our message to the Niger Delta
Avengers (NDA) is simple: The Niger Delta struggle is beyond attacks on oil
installations.
“Indeed, prior to the MEND ceasefire; the group had, among
numerous daring attacks, on Thursday, June 19, 2008, successfully carried out
the spectacular attack on Royal Dutch Shell’s offshore Bonga oilfield which is
located at a whooping distance of 120 kilometres (75miles) south-west of the
Niger Delta.
“If indeed your cause
is to avenge the injustice done to the Niger Delta region; then, we urge you to
ceasefire and join us to the table of negotiation with the Federal government;
otherwise, the Niger Delta struggle shall be hijacked, once again, by selfish
interests for their own personal aggrandizement
“One such example is the recent purported NDA demand made
through the region’s governors that the Federal government should drop
charges
of corruption against certain individuals and politicians from the
region. This absurd and ridiculous demand, to say the least, is far
removed from the Niger
Delta struggle.” the group told the Niger Delta Avengers.
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