MEND Confirms Talk With Buhari

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) says President Muhammadu Buhari is right to have said that the federal government was discussing with militants through oil companies and law enforcement agents.

This comes after ‎President Muhammadu Buhari had said on Thursday that his administration was “talking with Niger Delta militants through oil companies and law enforcement agencies”, to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region.

However, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) issued a denial the following day, saying “President Buhari-led government is not sincere to the Nigeria people and their foreign allies”.

But responding on Sunday, MEND confirmed that it had indeed been holding “preliminary talks” with the federal government.

It said militant groups such as the avengers were excluded because they belong to the group of “criminals” whome the federal government had said from start that it would never dialogue with.