The Movement For The Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), a group of former militants, has encouraged the Niger Delta Avengers to dialogue with the Nigerian government as a means of ending the incessant attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta.
“If indeed your cause is to avenge the injustice done to the Niger Delta region then, we urge you to ceasefire and join us to the table of negotiation with the federal Government,” MEND said in a statement.
It added that it had nominated a team of negotiators on its own behalf.
“Following useful exploratory discussions held with high ranking officials of the current administration, MEND has constituted (a team) to dialogue with the federal Government on the immediate, medium and long-term future of the Niger Delta region,” it said.
The Avengers had recently turned down a government approach for peace talks. The group’s attacks on oil facilities had crashed the country’s oil production output to a 20-year low.
