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In Nigeria, Last Main Militant Group in Niger Delta Offers Truce in Exchange
for Amnesty

   Chinedu Offor | Washington DC  May 16, 2011

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

   In Nigeria, the last significant militant group in the oil-rich Niger
   Delta has called for a truce with the government, offering todisbandand
   disarm in exchange foramnesty from prosecution.

   The Nigeria Delta Liberation Force is a breakaway faction ofthe main
   group, MEND, and has been fightinggovernment forces since its leader,
   John Togo, rejected the amnesty deal offered by the government.

   Security officials say the militant group could not cope with the fire
   power of the troops deployed in the area, but a group spokesman says it
   wants to give President Goodluck Jonathan time to implement key parts
   of the amnestyprogram.

   'It is good news, which I think the government should embrace,' said
   Onengiya Erekosima, president of Niger Delta Non-Violent Movement.
   Erekosima organized the firstface-to-face meeting between the militants
   and the government.

   He said the truce offer is a significant development that could bring
   permanent peace to the area and the government should move quickly to
   accept it as a confidence-building measure.

   'The president should just come out and accept the offer so that nobody
   else will arrest John Togo. If that is not done'¦ then they will be
   provoking some other groups to come up and take advantage of the
   violence that is already on the ground. I think the government should
   accept him into the reconciliation table.'

   The military says the militants were forced to give up the fight
   because they had no hope of achieving their objectives by force.

   But Erekosima said the government should not underestimate the will of
   the militants to wage a long, costly war.

   'They cannot blame John Togo at this time; there was not enough time
   for militants to bring out their guns. A lot of people did not believe
   the amnesty [would] succeed,' adding that the government should take it
   in good faith and reconcile with all the parties involved

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