Ijaw group to Buhari: Liaise with Jonathan to end militancy in Niger Delta

Ijaw Human Rights Monitor has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to liaise with former President Goodluck Jonathan to bring lasting solution to militancy in Niger Delta region.

The coordinator of the group, Fred Brisibe, stating this in a statement said, “We noticed from the body language of former President Goodluck Jonathan after his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari that there are flickers of light at the end of the tunnel for the bleak situation of uncertainty around the agitation for restructuring.

“However, this hope may fizzle out too soon if certain ugly trends are not arrested without delay. Truth is, certain characters who are members of the so-called Niger Delta Contact and Dialogue Team are on a mission to thwart the peace initiative.

“They frolic daily with the fraudulent Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) and use the opportunity of their membership of the committee to extort money from unsuspecting government officials for self-enrichment.

Read also: Nigeria won’t recover from the damage we’ll do, militant group vows

This is adversely affecting the peace process and may completely frustrate the dialogue. It is important, therefore, that for any meaningful and pragmatic solution to emerge, President Muhammadu Buhari should liaise with Goodluck Jonathan to get a proper team of delegates from the region to dialogue with.”

“We wish to use the opportunity to call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Security (DSS), to arrest and prosecute anyone who is involved in this syndicate.”

A militant group, Adaka Boro Avengers, which threatened to declare Niger Delta Republic on Monday August 1, had claimed it cancelled its planned declaration after appeals  former President Goodluck Jonathan and other Ijaw leaders.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

 

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now