Ahead planned dialogue, MEND says FG not meeting ceasefire agreement

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has said the Federal Government has not kept its own side of the agreement it reached for the cessation of hostilities in the Niger Delta.

According to MEND in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, government has refused to effect the release of Henry and Charles Okah despite the fact that it has met its own side of the agreement.

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The group however called of the Federal Government to meet the conditions for ceasefire before the October 31 meeting with the Chief Edwin Clark led Pan Niger Delta Dialogue team.

The statement reads: “The Federal Government, Nigerians and the international community would certainly agree that as part of these concerted patriotic efforts by MEND within the preceding six months of this year, relative peace has since returned to the Niger Delta region. The country’s oil and gas production capacity has also increased tremendously.

“However, in spite of MEND’s efforts, the Federal Government has yet to keep to the terms of the agreement reached with the group. Indeed, one of the key concessions secured by MEND was that the Federal Government would release certain political prisoners, including but not limited to the Okah brothers – Henry and Charles.

“Nevertheless, with the news of the forthcoming meeting between President Buhari and the Chief Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Group, we are confident that the concessions already secured by MEND shall be respected by the Federal Government.”

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews….

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