MOVEMENT for Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) says it will only begin talks with the Federal Government on disarmament in the Niger-Delta only when the supposed leader, Henry Okah, who is standing trial for gun running and treasonable felony, is released to lead the negotiations.
In an exclusive electronic mail to Vanguard, the spokesman of the militant group, Jomo Gbomo, who was reacting to a recommendation by the Niger-Technical Technical Committee (NTDC) that the Federal Government should commence a programme of disbarment in the next six months said, “We will begin talks only when Henry Okah is released to head the talks for the group.
In his words, “Because we are dealing with a government with an antecedent of insincerity, MEND has made it clear that it will only cooperate if the international protocol for such an exercise is adopted as well involvement of the UN mediators or appointed mediators with track record of integrity, not the likes of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo”.
In the meantime, the militant group said it would not dismantle militant camps in the region even if the Federal Government orders the Joint Task Force on the Niger-Delta to make a retreat, saying, “If JTF withdraws from the region to its barracks, that does not mean they cannot be called to commit atrocities at short notice, therefore, we will not close our camps but will downgrade them”.
On the recommendation that the government should rehabilitate the militants, the MEND said, “It is the JTF that will need rehabilitation after the conflict because of their exposure to sudden wealth and the impunity with which the government allowed them to commit extra-judicial killings”.
It dismissed the recommendation that militant camps should be turned to health care centres and schools, saying, “That is laughable. The government should be asking us to assist it in developing a coast and creek guard force gained from our experience in the terrain.
We should teach the military lessons in creek warfare and be paid for that service. Instead, the barracks should be converted to thoroughfare roads, schools and a recreation area as our armed forces is a ceremonial institution and a waste of tax payers”.