Militants promise to stop hostilities in Ondo

Yinka Oladoyinbo, Akure - 26.11.2007

Militant groups operating in Ondo State have promised to stop hostilities to allow the Presidential Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger Delta set up by President Umaru Yar’Adua to carry out its assignment.

They, however, added that if after some time, there was no meaningful development in the Niger Delta, they would resume attacks on oil installations and hostage taking in the area.

The militants, under the aegis of Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta Movement (MEND) and Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), also said they would not surrender their arms and ammunition until they were convinced that necessary development took place in the region.

The groups made their stand known during the visit of the committee led by its Chairman, Senator David Brigidi, to the camps of the militants in Ondo and Edo states.

The leaders of MEND and IYC said there should be concrete moves by the Niger Delta states and the Federal Government to address unemployment and infrastructural problems facing the oil producing communities in the country.

Senator Brigidi noted that the problem of the Niger Delta was older than many of those trying to solve it. He, however, appealed to the people for peace and time to allow the Federal Government to deal with the problem facing them.