MEND Cease Fire Threatened

The recent ceasefire by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), was yesterday threatened, following a alleged air raids by operatives of the Joint Military Taskforce on the camps of two militia groups, the Niger Delta Patriotic Force (NDPF) and the Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV).

This is coming few hours after the leadership of the Action Congress (AC) in Rivers State urged Nigerians to pray for the ceasefire called by MEND to be permanent, so as to allow for the continuation of on-going projects across the oil and gas region.

An online statement issued yesterday and signed by MEND spokesman Gbomo Jomo, and made available to Daily Champion alleged that an air raid was carried out by the Air Force arm of the JTF, saying it may provoke other militia groups into engaging in another 'unprecedented war along the creeks and waterways of the region."

The statement read in part: "About 1730 Hrs on Tuesday, September 23, 2008, the Nigerian military still seething with anger from the humiliating defeat in the six-day oil war, launched an unprovoked air assault on the camps of the Niger Delta Patriotic Force (NDPF) and Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV) in an attempt to destabilize the on-going ceasefire.

"The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) condemns this cowardly act and will not play into the hands of the military by retaliating and putting the peace process in jeopardy at this time. It is a well known fact that the Joint Task "Fraud" (JTF) is desperate to showcase its relevance as they will be quickly out of business in an atmosphere of peace.

"Like their cousins the Nigeria Police who stage spates of robberies whenever there is a public outcry for the removal of check points on the road, the military stages such attacks to hoodwink the state governors for additional funding. We also suspect that a peaceful Niger Delta is not beneficial to a section of the country who may want to alter the constitution again in the event that the President may resign due to his ailing health".

"Tropical Storm Vigilant, our heightened state of alert, is still on course and the military and oil companies will soon be hearing from us at the appropriate time. MEND can not vouch for the actions this group may take. We will however use this medium to notify the public on developments as they unfold".

But the Rivers State chapter of the AC through its publicity secretary, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, prayed that the ceasefire called by MEND lasts longer for the region to witness growth.

He said "We just pray that this cease-fire becomes permanent as no meaningful development can take place in war-like situation as the Niger Delta region has been turned into recently.

"With this development, the Federal Government has no further reason to delay moving the relevant machinery and personnel to Niger Delta to hasten the development of a region so wickedly neglected by the past Governments at the centre and the region.

"Julius Berger Plc should commence work immediately on its abandoned projects particularly the dualisation of East-West road that has become a death trap and the fly-over construction at Eleme Junction that means a lot to the people of Rivers State."

He said the period of peace should be used by the government to intensify job creation, revamping and reviving of our moribund industries, improving on our decaying infrastructure and showing signs that Rivers State belongs to all sons and daughters of Rivers State."

(Daily Champion)