MEND dissociates from Niger Delta Avengers, Biafra groups

- MEND has accused Niger Delta Avengers of trying to destabilise President Buhari's administration

- The group said Buhari needs to be given time to perform after the region was abandoned by Jonathan

- It dissociated itself from the activities of Biafra groups

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has revealed that the Niger Delta Avengers was formed by some sinister people to destabilize the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Niger Delta Avengers has claimed responsibility for series of Bombing of fuel and gas pipeline in the region and has vowed to continue to do so until government meets its demands.

In a statement published by Sahara Reporters, MEND said dissociates itself from the activities of the militant group and said it still respects the ceasefire agreement.

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MEND also clarified that it does not support the agitation for an independent Biafra state championed by some secessionist group especially the Indigenous People Of Biafra.

The group said President Buhari deserves to be given time to stabilise the country which was run down by the “ill-fated, corrupt and visionless immediate past administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan.”

Full MEND statement below:

“After a rigorous and robust analysis, debate and review of political events in Nigeria within the past 12 months; particularly as they affect the Niger Delta region, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has resolved to continue to respect the unilateral ceasefire of hostilities declared May 30, 2014 against key economic interests of the Nigerian State.

“The painful but necessary resolution to respect the ceasefire was borne out of MEND's belief that as President Muhammadu Buhari marks his first year in office, he deserves more time to stabilize the country that was ran aground by the ill-fated, corrupt and visionless immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan which pauperized the Nigerian people to the alarming degree we all experience today.

“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to condemn and dissociate itself from the recent activities carried out by a group known as the “Niger Delta Avengers”. Their sudden emergence has absolutely nothing to do with the Niger Delta struggle but rather a tool by certain elements to destabilise the current government. Going by their actions and subsequent statements, it has become very apparent on who the sponsors of these group are.

“MEND serves notice to the International Community that the Niger Delta region shall NOT be part of a secessionist Biafran State. Rather, the group believes in one strong united Nigerian federation where the principles and ideals of Resource Control; True Federalism; Rule of Law/Respect for Human Rights; Democracy; Free Enterprise and a Vibrant Civil Society are well entrenched in the grundnorm and put to practice.

“However, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) remains vehemently opposed to the fraudulent and unsustainable Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) headed by Brigadier General Paul Boroh (rtd) which still runs on the corrupt bureaucratic and operational template of the past administration. We have always made it very clear that unless the root issues which gave birth to the agitations in the Niger Delta region are addressed, in the form of a sincere dialogue, this programme will only continue to remain a mere cesspool of corruption.

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“In order to create an enabling environment for dialogue on the Niger Delta question, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) urges President Muhammadu Buhari to release the Okah Brothers - Henry and Charles who were arrested in 2010 on trumped-up charges. The release of Henry and Charles Okah will be key to any form of dialogue in helping to bring stability to the volatile region.”

The division among Niger Delta groups over the blowing up of pipelines as a way of communicating grievances to the federal government seems to be escalating.

A clash between two groups in the region over the control of the Tebidaba-Brass pipelines along the Azuzuama-Ikienghenbiri creek in Southern Ijaw local government, Bayelsa state resulted in fire.

While on of the groups claim to be safeguarding the region, others claim to be vandals leading to tension and shooting between the groups.

Source: Legit.ng