MEND, in an online statement by its Spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said it took the decision after careful consideration and extensive consultation, but alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan has failed.
It noted that the temporary ceasefire was ordered in the hope that the new government of Nigeria would consider true dialogue, founded on a sincere desire to bring justice to the people of the Niger Delta and true peace to Nigeria.
The militant group had earlier threatened to bomb strategic locations in Lagos, Abuja and the Niger Delta, over the alleged failure of Jonathan’s administration to develop the region, rich in crude oil and gas, but neglected over the years.
MEND said: “After billions of Naira spent, all the government of Goodluck Jonathan has to show for its amnesty and re-integration programme is colossal failure, as the true intention of the programme was hijacked for personal and political greed.
“The architect of the amnesty programme in the Niger Delta, the late President Umaru Yar’adua, intended this process to be a precursor to formal dialogue, in achieving a just and lasting solution to the unrest in the Niger Delta.
“The government of Jonathan and the oil companies believe the spirit of agitation in the Niger Delta has been blown away with the bribing of a few thugs labeled stakeholders.
“They assume giving alms to the youths of the Niger Delta will secure installations, but the government fails to understand that if the root issues of these agitations are not addressed, we would only be going round in circles, resulting in more groups springing up and no peace in the Niger Delta.”
The militant group also stated “categorically” that it had no affiliations with tribal assemblies such as the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and Ijaw National Congress (INC), which it said neither represented nor could speak for the freedom fighters of MEND, which comprises fighters from every tribe in the Niger Delta.
It added: “If we see no sign by the new government for dialogue at addressing our key issues, we will take that as a green light from the government to commence our struggle, which will be very detrimental to all oil companies operating in the Niger Delta.”
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