The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the militant group attacking oil facilities in the Niger Delta on Monday announced its readiness to dialogue with the Nigerian Government.
In the last few weeks, the group had blown up dozen of oil facilities across the Niger Delta States forcing Nigeria’s oil production to 1.1 million barrels per day, the lowest in recent times.
But, in a statement by its spokesperson, Brig. Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, the group said it was ready for genuine dialogue that must also involve the oil companies operating in the region.
The statement reads in full:
“The high command of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is using this medium to restate that there are no new items to put on the table for dialogue, we only want a genuine attitude and conducive atmosphere that will make us commit to any proposed dialogue and last peace talk. We want the federal government to commit members states of the multi national Oil Corporations to commit independent mediators to this proposed dialogue; we believed that it is only such environment that will engender genuine dialogue that will be aimed at setting up a framework for achieving the short, medium and long term demands of the Niger delta to de-escalating this conflict and bring about a lasting peace.
The NDA high command is restating our commitment to attack the interest of oil corporation and international refineries operators that bring in vessels to the Niger delta territory to buy our oil that every successive government have refused to used and reapply the proceeds towards any development in the region since 1958. If they refuse be heed to our advice will result to sinking of two their mother vessel as an examples to others They should not undertake any repair of pipeline, oil and gas facilities that is damaged or attacked by our forces during this period of “Operation Red Economy” until and/or after the dialogue.
Finally, if need be we may review our earlier stance of not taking lives. We are going to redirect and reactivate all our activities if the government, oil companies and their services firms don’t heed to these modest warnings of not carrying out any repairs works and suspend the buying of crude oil from our region as we await the right atmosphere that will engender genuine dialogue “ We Want a peace with Honour not a Peace of our time”
Thanks
Brig. Gen Mudoch Agbinibo
Spokesperson
