Niger Delta Militant Groups Call for Calm

In its reaction to widespread unrest in the northern part of the country, the Joint Revolutionary Council, a local militia organization, has called on youth in the Niger Delta to remain calm.


“While we recognize that there are strong northern interests in the Niger Delta, we will remain calm and will do the best we can to reject acts of provocation currently being deployed by elements of northern extraction,” the group said in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte.

Supporters of Muhammadu Buhari, the Congress for Progressive Change’s presidential candidate, have taken to the streets since Monday to protest the results of Saturday’s election. But the militia group believes the actions of the protesters, which has included burning posters, tires and buildings, underscores a bigger problem.

“The unrest in the North should give the current government another reason to visit the idea of the convocation of a sovereign national conference,” the group said, adding that “it has become very clear to all that we do not belong together.”

The group also accused political leaders of involvement in the crisis and called for an investigation. “Let us not forget that some northern leaders had in very recent times threatened the peace of the Nigerian state should they not be chosen in their targeted political spheres. These people should be brought to book,” it said.

In a related development, some former warlords of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) yesterday held an emergency meeting following the outbreak of riots in some part of the country over the outcome of last Saturday’s presidential election.

The meeting blamed what they called “disgruntled politicians and crises-profiteers” for the crisis, saying the masses of the north are as marginalized as their counterparts in the southern part of the country. They also promised not to promote any retaliatory actions in the south-south.

“We condemn, in very strong terms, the post-election violence being perpetrated and sponsored in parts of northern Nigeria by disgruntled politicians and crises-profiteers. We regard the outbreak of violent protests as uncalled-for, barbaric and very retrogressive,” the group said at the end of the meeting. “But we dare assert that this sponsored violence does not in any way mirror or reflect the inner feelings of the overwhelming majority of the northern masses. The northern masses, just like their brothers and sisters in the south, particularly the Niger Delta, are victims of years of misrule under the same persons orchestrating the post-election violence across the north.”

The meeting was attended by Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo); Ateke Tom; Asari Dokubo; Bibopre Ajube (aka Shoot At Sight), Ezekiel Akpasibewei, Farah Dagogo, Africa Ukparasia, Paul Ezizi; Reuben Wilson, Joshua Macaiver, Ferdinand Amaibi; Tamunegiyeifori Proby; Kenneth Opusinji; Kile Selky Torughedi; Bonny Gawei Aboy Muturu; Hendrick Opukeme; Paul Bebenimibo; Dennis Otuaro; Gomoh Ekiyou; Saibakumo Wilson Gbaire; Andabafa Opunamah, and Soboma Jackrich.

source – 234next