We’re are not in talks with FG –Avengers

The Niger Delta Avengers on Friday replied
President Muhammadu Buhari over his claim
that the Federal Government was already
holding talks with militants for a possible
dialogue.
The Niger Delta Avengers had claimed
responsibilities for series of attacks on oil
facilities across the region in recent times.
Buhari had said on Thursday at a farewell
audience with the outgoing Ambassador to
Germany, Mr. Michael Zinner, that the
government was holding talks with militants
through oil companies.
But a statement by the spokesperson for the
Niger Delta Avengers, Mudoch Agbinibo,
dismissed the President’s claim. The
statement said they (avengers) were not
aware of any ongoing peace talks.
It reiterated that for the group to hold any
peace talks with the Federal Government, it
will entail the involvement of the international
community.
The statement read, “Our attention has been
drawn to a report that the President is in
touch with Niger Delta agitators, including the
Niger Delta Avengers, but the truth is that we
are not aware of any peace talk.
“If there is any such peace talk, it means the
President is talking to the Federal
Government’s mercenaries set to disturb the
genuine struggle of the agitators.
“President Buhari-led government is not
sincere to the Nigeria people and their
foreign allies.
“If we are to engage in any peace talk we
made it clear that the international
community must be part of it. The President
knows our demands. So, they should stop
deceiving the international oil companies, the
general public and the international
community.”
This is just as the Ijaw Youth Council flayed
Buhari for claiming that oil multinationals
were spearheading negotiation with the Niger
Delta Avengers.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Mr. Eric
Omare, IYC said such an utterance by the
President showed lack of seriousness by the
current administration to end attacks on oil
facilities in the Niger Delta region.
Omare said, “President Buhari and the
Federal Government should stop deceiving
Nigerians and the international community
about talks with Niger Delta militants on how
to stop attacks on oil facilities in the Niger
Delta region.
“It is highly ridiculous and laughable for
President Buhari to say that his government
is negotiating with Niger Delta militants
through oil companies and law enforcement
agencies.”
He said the President’s claim was
embarrassing, adding that what “is happening
in the Niger Delta is beyond what oil
companies and security authority without
government direct involvement can handle”
Omare said, “Only a sincere and holistic
dialogue with the people aimed at addressing
the remote causes of recurrent militancy can
bring permanent peace to the Niger Delta
region. This can only happen when Buhari
comes to the negotiation table.”