The Movement for the Emancipation
of the Niger Delta, MEND, has
criticised the Chief of Army Staff,
Tukur Buratai, for threatening the
use of force in the Niger Delta.
Mr. Buratai had on Monday warned
that the government will use force if
efforts at talks with militants in the
region fail. He spoke in Port
Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
MEND said the threat was
“insensitive and provocative”.
“MEND hereby makes it clear that
General Buratai’s statement is
insensitive, provocative,
unprofessional and prejudicial to the
fair outcome of the ongoing
preliminary talks regarding the Niger
Delta crisis between representatives
of oil companies and security
agencies, on the one hand; and the
Movement for the Emancipation of
the Niger Delta (MEND), on the other
hand,” the group said in a statement
by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo.
“We therefore warn the Chief of
Army Staff to guard his utterances,
refrain from making political and
inflammatory statements and stick
to his primary responsibility.
“We use this medium to appeal to
the good people of the Niger Delta to
remain patient with the
Administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari and keep hope
alive as MEND and the Aaron Team 2
Dialogue, Peace and Development
Initiative led by Mr. Odein
Ajumogobia, and HRH King Alfred
Papapreye Diette-Spiff are working
assiduously to secure sustainable
concessions for the region from the
Government.
“While MEND have already kick-
started the dialogue process with the
ongoing preliminary talks, the Aaron
Team, made up of distinguished and
accomplished personalities from the
region, are waiting on the sidelines
to conclude the dialogue process
