Niger Delta Avengers denied negotiating with Nigerian government says the government has not been truthful

Nigeria: The Niger Delta militant group Niger Delta Avengers on Friday, July 22 denied it was in any talks with the Federal government of Nigeria adding that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has not been truthful regarding negotiations.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Thursday said the government was already holding talks with militant groups in the oil producing states, but did not however mention the groups involved in the negotiations.
The president Buhari said his government was open to adopting some of the policies put in place by past governments on the amnesty programme as a measure of containing militancy, adding that he understood the plight of the militants.

“We are studying the instruments. We have to secure the environment, otherwise investment will not come,”  Buhari said.

“We understand their feelings, we will do our best for the country.”

Reacting to the President Buhar's comment, the spokesman for the group Mudoch Agbinibo in a statement published on its website said, the group was “not aware of any peace talk” with the government.

According to Premium Times, Mr Agbinibo said Buhari’s government had not showed any sign of sincerity to show that it was ready to engage the militants in negotiations.

“President Buhari led government is not sincere to the Nigeria people and their foreign allies,” the group said.

Mr Agbinibo said that only a peace talk brokered by the international community would be acceptable to the group.

“If we are to engage in any peace talk we made it clear that the international community must be part of it. The President knows our demands. So they should stop deceiving the international oil companies, the general public and the international community,” the group said.

The group had repeatedly said it welcomed dialogue with the government, but said its terms must be met before such could proceed.