Over recent months, militancy has returned to the Niger Delta with several groups taking up arms and blowing up oil installations. After attempts to crush them by force failed, the government agreed to enter into dialogue with Mend and other militant groups in the hope of finding a lasting solution to the crisis.
While the Niger Delta crisis is raging, Igboland is also up in flames with the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) demanding the release of its leader Nnamdi Kanu currently detained since October. Ipob and other secessionist groups want to recreate the defunct Republic of Biafra that briefly existed between July 1967 and January 1970.
Following talks with the federal government, Mend said it had reached an agreement with the authorities on the release of Henry Okah, his younger brother Charles and Obi Nwabueze as well as Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafra agitators, on the condition that they renounce their campaign. According to Mend, freedom was also on the way for Edmund Ebiware who is currently serving a life sentence.
However, President Muhammadu Buhari's spokesman Mallam Garba Shehu said that the presidency was yet to receive report of the agreement. Defence minister Mansur Dan-Alli, added that he could not rule out force against recalcitrant militants if dialogue fails.
Mend spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said: “Thus far, the deliberations have been fruitful. Various concessions and guarantees have already been secured some of which include but are not limited to the release of Henry Okah, Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze and a review of the life sentence handed to Edmund Ebiware.
"These were based on a proposal put forward by the Aaron Team representative for Abia and Imo states, Senator Adolphus Wabara. They also include the conditional release of Ipob leader, Nnamdi Kanu and others if they renounce their agitation for a Biafra Republic.”
Henry Okah, is currently serving a jail term in South Africa for illegal gun running while Charles Okah is in prison custody from where he is standing trial in connection with the 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja. Mr Kanu, on the other hand is remanded in prison by a court which is trying him for treason related charges.
Mend added yesterday that its agreement with government stipulates that wanted Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, shall not be arrested, harassed and or intimidated whenever he makes himself available as a delegate of the Aaron Team Two. Mend also said that international arbitrator and conflict negotiator, American Dr Judith Asuni shall be accepted as the representative of the Niger Delta Avengers on the Mend Aaron Team.
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