N/Delta Militants Declare Ceasefire
By Eddy Odivwri in Lagos and Josephine Lohor in Abuja
Peace looks certain to return to the troubled Niger Delta as armed militias yesterday signed a pact to disarm and disband.
The militants also declared an immediate cessation of all hostilities. They further commited themselves to "work for the promotion of the development of the Niger Delta and the Nigerian State under a just, free and equitable environment."
Going by the communique signed at the end of peace talks held in Abuja at the personal instance of President Olusegun Obasanjo, the dreadful and violent exploits of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) led by Ahaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, and that of Niger Delta Vigilante led by Ateke Tom are expected to cease. Both Dokubo-Asari and Ateke signed the communique along with the Secretary-General of Ijaw Youth Council, Mabuye Kuromiema, who facilitated the peace talks.
The highlights of resolutions reached at the peace talks and announced to the press yesterday are:
To lead processes under the president for the permanent resolutions of lingering conflicts in the region.
To have unfettered access to promote the legitimate aspiration of the people within democratic norms of fundamental rights and obligations.
The disbandment of all militias and militant groups as well as total disarmament.
The groups ask all their militia groups to immediately cease all hostilities.
They commit themselves to work for the promotion of the development of the Niger-Delta and the Nigerian State under a just, free and equitable environment.
That the parties undertake to be peaceful, law abiding and not to initiate, undertake or promote any acts detrimental to the unity, orderly growth and development of Nigeria.
Prior to the truce deal Dokubo was reported to have threatened to ditch the peace talks, citing renewed military siege on his hideouts and offensives allegedly mounted against his supporters and militant followers.
But Rivers State Governor Peter Odili lauded the talks initiated with the militants which, he said, had hamstrung them in their destructive exploits.
Dokubo's threat was said to have come on the heels of telephone calls he received from his "volunteer soldiers" that some nine military boats were noticed coming out of Buguma, his native town, yesterday afternoon.
Although there was no report of confrontation by the militants with the military, Dokubo was said to have been angry that the military appeared to have taken the advantage of his being out of base to "terrorise my people". He consequently threatened to pull out of the peace meeting which entered the third day in Abuja yesterday.
The insurgency kingpin had been invited to the Federal Capital at the government's instance, along with other Niger Delta rebel militias to negotiate truce, as a way out of the worsening violence in the area. That move was in the wake of a widely reported threat by Dokubo's NDPVF to launch "an all out war" on the Nigerian nation from October 1, if multinational corporations drilling oil in the Niger Delta did not cease their operations.
Before that threat, which triggered a surge of the international spot market price of crude oil to above $50, the exploits of the Dokubo led militia had held the Niger Delta region, particularly Rivers State, in throes of wanton violence that has left a trail of deaths and destruction of properties.
Sources close to the meeting in Abuja told THISDAY that Dokubo had to be "strongly persuaded" to drop his threat and continue with the talks.
"He had to be begged by several persons before he agreed to return to the meeting," one source said. It was further gathered that presidential representatives at the talks promised to draw President Obasanjo's attention to the complaints made by Dokubo, with a view to achieving a real ceasefire from both ends.
The Presidency was said to have insisted that Dokubo should stay back in Abuja and join the other leg of the peace negotiation with the other rival group in Rivers State led by Ateke. Ateke was also flown into Abuja by agents of the Rivers State Government. As at yesterday afternoon, the talks were still going on at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
Obasanjo's resolve to also discuss with Ateke was said to have been informed by his determination to "deal with the Niger Delta troubles once and for all."
The Presidency was said to have been committed to the talks because of the need for peace in the country and the economic implication of a prolonged Niger Delta crisis.
The President, in his Independence Day broadcast yesterday had expressed the Federal Government's desire to deal with the situation because of the global effect of the crisis on the price of crude oil.
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