Niger Delta militants, on Sunday, declared a three-month ceasefire and indicated readiness to negotiate with the authorities. This was after months of sustained attacks on oil workers and facilities.
The militants, whose activities were coordinated by a group known as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, included those in the Asari Dokubo-led Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Front, the Martyrs Brigade, and the Coalition of Militant Action in the Niger Delta.
They had between January and March 2006, disrupted major oil production lines worth millions of naira and kidnapped 10 oil workers. MEND also claimed responsibility for the April 19, 2006, car bomb at the 2nd Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt.
But in a statement in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Sunday, the group said it was ready to lay down arms and give the Federal Government-backed Centre for Niger Delta Development a chance to work for the development of the region.
The Vice-Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council, David Reje, signed the statement on behalf of MEND. He confirmed in a telephone interview with our correspondent that the group had decided to give the government a chance to prove its commitment to peace and development in the region.
He said the group had communicated its decision to ceasefire to the state government.
He disclosed that officials of Rivers State would be meeting with the leaders of MEND on Tuesday.
Reje said the decision by MEND to halt hostilities for three months was not out of fear or cowardice, but a demonstration of the group�s resolve to make things better for the region and its people.
Asked why the group accepted to stop fighting when the government had ignored its preconditions, Reje said MEND was only stepping the demands down for a while.
The statement by MEND read in part, �Following the timely intervention of the CNDD through her publications in the dailies and intervention roles, we hereby express our collective and sincere confidence in the CNDD as an institution that can deliver peace in the Niger Delta.
�As a result of several meetings held in Port Harcourt and Warri, MEND states as follows: That all forms of hostilities are hereby suspended, believing that this will give way to peaceful deliberations for permanent peace to reign in the Niger Delta.
�MEND will sincerely observe the scenario for a period of three months, during which it will decide on what steps to take conclusively. �MEND appreciates the effort put in place by the CNDD and the Federal Government in its effort to call off the impasse in the region. We do pledge to reciprocate same in good faith.�
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the militants agreed to suspend attacks following the plea by a top Presidency official, who heads the CNDD.
The Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the President, Mrs. Oluremi Oyo said, �The government welcomes any attempt to resolve the problem in the Niger Delta through peaceful means.
�The government is also ensuring that all stakeholders are involved in restoring peace to the region by coming up with short, medium and long term solutions.�
THE PUNCH,