PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has expressed fears that peace may continue to elude the Niger Delta for the time being as many of the militants operating in the region do not yet appear to be ready to lay down their arms and dialogue.
Since President Buhari assumed office last year, militancy has returned to the Niger Delta with several armed groups taken up arms and blowing up oil installations. Over recent months, the federal government has initiated a peace process but despite at least one meeting with President Buhari, peace is yet to return to the region.
Presidency officials say that despite the federal government’s effort at pursuing dialogue with the Niger Delta stakeholders, militant groups have not reciprocated the gesture. President Buhari's spokesman Mallam Garba Shehu, said the continued destruction of oil installations had frustrated peace talks and appealed to Niger Delta leaders to facilitate the stoppage of violence and economic sabotage in the area.
Mallam Shehu said: “Despite the government’s demonstration of goodwill by bringing stakeholders to the roundtable, militant groups have continued to blow up national economic assets. We must keep national interest above all else and give priority to eschewing violence and destruction."
He added that the federal government was facilitating development by speeding up ongoing projects and investing in construction and repair of highways, railways and electricity plants. According to the presidential spokesman, a number of projects that existed only on paper are being executed.
However, Benjamin Ene, a leader of the Bakassi Strike Force, said moves by his group to end hostilities in the Bakassi area of the Niger Delta had been snubbed by the federal government. His group restated its readiness to lay down its arms and work with the federal government to ensure that the problems faced by the Bakassi people were addressed.
Mr Ene, also known as G1, who is currently on the wanted list of the Nigerian Army, had on November 8 returned a general purpose machine gun and AK 47 rifles to the officials of the Department of State Services. He also said that his group had turned down offers by foreign and local organisations to destabilise Nigeria.
“As a mark of good faith and demonstration of seriousness, on November 8 by 16.30 hours, we returned weapons our fighters seized during our last confrontation. We call on the whole world and the United Nations to note this declaration of ceasefire and the return of weapons while we remain vigilant and wait for the response of the Nigerian government.
“For now, we shall maintain our independence and refuse to take up offers we have been receiving to team up with other international groups and local freedom fighters for more effective confrontation and destabilisation of Nigeria.” Mr Ene said. He added that the group, which consists of over 1, 000 foot soldiers, would name its representative when the federal government showed seriousness and readiness to end the war in Bakassi.
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