The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has urged the Niger Delta Avengers to join in discussions with the government, a statement said on Sunday. “If indeed your cause is to avenge the injustice done to the Niger Delta region then, we urge you to ceasefire and join us to the table of negotiation with the federal Government,” the statement read.
The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) are a relatively new militant group that seem to be toeing the path of MEND (Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta); its predecessor. MEND said in a statement it had more or less assigned a group of mediators to represent the group on certain matters.”Following useful exploratory discussions held with high ranking officials of the current administration… MEND has constituted (a team) to dialogue with the federal Government on the immediate, medium and long-term future of the Niger Delta region,” it said.
But although both groups are hostile towards each other, they share the same goals – to oppress the government until their demands are met. While the MEND may have retired, NDA is slowly taking over.
Last Friday, the Niger Delta Avengers claimed responsibility or blowing up another Agip ENI oil facility. The dreaded militant group also expressed satisfaction at the refusal of oil buyers to patronise Nigeria anymore, thereby justifying their attacks on oil facilities.
The militant group – Niger Delta Avengers – had posted about this attack on its Twitter page. The militants also hinted the international community of their intention to begin oil business very soon.
3:am of Friday @NDAvengers blow up the Obi Obi Brass Trunk line belonging to Agip ENI. It is Agip’s Major Crude oil Line in Bayelsa State.
— Niger Delta Avengers (@NDAvengers) June 10, 2016
Good the Foreign Refineries stop buying Nigerian Oil. pic.twitter.com/TEWjxeuOmY
— Niger Delta Avengers (@NDAvengers) June 10, 2016
This marked the sixth attack the Niger Delta Avengers have claimed responsibility for within the last couple of weeks. Now, the militants are publicising plans to go into the oil business soon. It is not clear if the group intends to transact as a militant group or as a sovereign state. But if the latter is the case, then Nigeria may be faced with a battle to save its sovereignty – a likely repeat of the 1967 Biafran war.
