Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has threatened to commence what it called an ‘unstoppable attack’ on major economic interests in the western fringe on the Niger Delta.
The militant group gave the alleged ‘divide and rule’ system used by the government, as the reason for its planned action.
Besides, MEND said it was the Federal Government and not the Niger Delta militants who needed amnesty, even as it warned youth leaders parading themselves as links between the government and the militants in the amnesty deal that they were on their own.
Only last week, Minister of State in the Niger Delta Ministry, Elder Godsday Orubebe, gave a hint that the Federal Government had set up a committee to outline the modalities for the amnesty promised Niger Delta militants by the government.
Although, he gave no further details as regards the composition of the committee, it was learnt the National Security Adviser, General Serki Murktar (rtd), heads the committee.
But MEND’s spokesman in the Western Delta, Ajija Bounanaowei, in a telephone interview with the Nigerian Tribune not only dismissed the said committee but also warned that government’s attitude towards the crisis in the region was an invitation to spread the insecurity in some parts of the Niger Delta to hitherto peaceful areas.
His words: “The government, as we have always said, is still playing to the gallery; this is what we can call the real divide and rule, which is the most dangerous in any crisis situation. For a very long time, there has been a deliberate ploy by the Federal Government to ensure division in the ranks of MEND, but I can assure you that this will fail once again.”