Last week Nigeria’s government ordered the military to halt attacks in the oil-producing south and urged militants to halt bombings to allow a dialogue, but the Niger Delta Avengers have refused negotiations.
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The Commandant General of the Riverine Security, also known as the Coast Guard of the Federation, Commander Bibi Oduku has lashed out at the Federal Government for proposing to negotiate with resurgent militant groups. Fighters of group have emphasized that during its attacks nobody has suffered, and the organization wages war against oil objects.
This time around, it is a pipeline managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
“Roundtable discussion with sincerity of goal will produce a win-win situation for both parties hence it should be regarded as the best option to be adopted to address the issues that had led to the current hostilities in the region to forestall further attacks on oil facilities in the region”.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta had in a statement had advised the NDA to cease the destruction of pipelines. Their members consider that oil companies, including transnational, infringe upon interests of local population since on the shelf of Nigeria large-scale oil fields have been found.
Thursday, May 5, 2016 – Strike Team 7 of the Niger Delta Avengers blew up Well D25 in Abiteye belonging to Chevron. The group is also seeking independent meditators for any potential peace talks. They have declared their support for the NDA.
Their attacks are aimed at crippling the country’s fuel production capacity to get the government’s attention over their demands for an equal distribution of oil resources and independence of the Niger Delta region. They also say that sincerity of Nigerian government is a major factor, which will define usefulness of further actions.
The group has said the attacks are aimed at winning Niger Delta residents a larger share of oil revenues. They urge to wait for the correct atmosphere, which will help to carry on honest dialogue.
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The Niger Delta Avengers have claimed a series of attacks on oil pipelines mostly in the Delta and Bayelsa States of southern Nigeria.
