MEND declares ceasefire

Demands release of Okah brothers, presidential pardon
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has announced a temporary ceasefire and suspension of Hurricane Exodus targeted at crippling the oil industry.
MEND said though it received President Goodluck Jonathan’s democracy day speech with “cautious optimism” it noted the Federal Government gesture to open its doors for aggrieved groups to dialogue if they renounced terrorism, armed struggle and embrace peace.
The spokesman of MEND, Jomo Gbomo in a statement made available to Saturday Sun said MEND has declared a ceasefire effective from 700hrs Friday May 30th.
Recalling past efforts especially of the Aaron Team it set up in 2009 to broker peace, MEND pointed out that it “has been disappointed in the past with Government’s insincerity”
According to him “Instead of addressing our concerns and dialogue on the root issues that led us to take up arms, your government, based on bad advisers, arrogantly jettisoned dialogue with our negotiation delegates, the Aaron Team in 2009”
Gbomo explained that MEND’s struggle has never been because of the election of a Niger Delta President in 2015 adding that the group expects sincerity in dialogue and reconciliation on the part of the Federal Government.
He said “We hold you to your words, as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) declare a ceasefire effective 0700Hrs, Friday 30 May, 2014 by calling off our ‘Hurricane Exodus’ campaign and other acts of sabotage; especially our incessant attacks on gas and oil pipelines, erroneously or mischievously attributed to oil thieves”
Gbomo said MEND however demands an act of goodwill from the Federal Government by ordering the release of its fighters in Police detention including Henry and his brother Charles as they would be the prime movers in the dialogue team to be set up.
It also wants a presidential pardon for all those already tried and convicted as well as suspend Court proceedings and drop all charges against those awaiting trial.
Gbomo who announced that initial discussions would be facilitated through the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Kingsley Kuku, who they are comfortable to work with, added that the response of the Federal Government to its offer would determine if there would be real peace in Nigeria.