Two key Niger Delta militants, Ateke Tom and Government Tompolo, have started informal talks with the Federal Government about surrendering their weapons in return for clemency.Spokeswoman for the Presidential Panel on Amnesty, Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, told Reuters that representatives of the two factional leaders of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) have spoken with government officials about accepting the amnesty offer."
We are discussing with them, but it is all informal. We are assuring them that the amnesty is for real, as they have expressed concern about their personal security, he said. President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in June, offered amnesty to militants in the Niger Delta to try to stem the unrest, which has resulted in the shut in of about two-thirds of the country crude oil capacity, losing billions of dollars a year.
The amnesty programme has split militant factions in the region, with some of them handing over weapons, while others have refused to take part.
MEND, which recently threatened to resume attacks after the expiration of the cease-fire period in two weeks, said it was abandoning militant leaders who engaged in talks with government. "MEND is shedding most of its popular commanders whose identities have become known to government agents, as this will not make our secrecy style effective," the group said in an email to Reuters."
It is possible Agary may have had private talks with Ateke and Tompolo, but this has nothing to do with MEND. MEND has not returned to the negotiating table and talks remain suspended until we announce a resumption," the email noted.
