The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the step taken towards the cleanup of Ogoniland in the region.
The former militant group in a statement by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo also criticized former President, Goodluck Jonathan who it said despite being from the region and spending six years as the President of Nigeria never took steps towards cleaning Ogoniland.
MEND also warned communities harbouring members of the resurgent militant group, Niger Delta Avengers to desist from doing so, stressing that they are not protected by the extant principles of international and or municipal law during a conflict.
The group said, “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND notes with grave concern the recent renewed spate of unprovoked and persistent attacks on Nigeria’s oil installations by the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, many of whom were MEND’s commanders and fighters who jumped on the Presidential Amnesty gravy train without knowing why they took up arms in the first place.
“What are more worrisome to us is the ungodly conspiracy of silence of the region’s elite and their tacit support of the NDA’s conduct under the pretext of a so-called, “Niger Delta struggle.
“However, we hereby remind our communities, which harbour criminals such as members of the NDA that their communities are not protected by the extant principles of international and/or municipal law during a conflict.”
