₦airaland Forum

Even after the amnesty, some of these ex-MEND fighters said with their mouth that there are still thousands of fighters in the creeks who did not accept the amnesty. See an old article below.

Please find below the statement made by Farah Dagogo who has been ushered out by MEND. All commanders have been replaced by unknown commanders and the next phase of our campaign will commence soon.

Jomo Gbomo
Statement by Farah Dagogo, Out-Going Commander of MEND

Today October 3, 2009, I Farah Dagogo, overall field commander for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) accepts together with field commanders in Rivers state, the Presidential offer of amnesty to militants who lay down their weapons.

In line with conditions attached to this amnesty offer, we are surrendering all weapons under our direct control.

We are accepting this amnesty with the hope that it will usher in a true spirit of reconciliation exemplified by dialogue and federal presence with an aim to addressing the root cause of militancy in the Niger Delta.

As we signify our willingness to put to test the governments preparedness to address the problems of the people of the Niger Delta, I appeal to those still determined to fight on, to consider first the option of dialogue.

In the same vein, it is my sincere desire that the government immediately embarks on dialogue to forestall a resurgence of violence in the Niger Delta.

[size=16pt]There are still thousands of people willing to continue fighting in the creeks and only the actions of the government can win over our brothers still bent on fighting.[/size]

As soldiers, we are not competent to dialogue with the federal government on these serious issues affecting the region.

We wish our brothers and sisters who we hope will commence with the intellectual struggle for justice in the Niger Delta, the very best and pray for a just and peaceful Niger Delta.

Farah Dagogo

jamace:
The members of MEND[b] that we know[/b] have denied LIVE ( in FLESH AND BLOOD on NTA Network News) any  involvement in blast. Some people are just using that name as a camouflage to carry out their threats.

My mind tells me this threat is working: http://www.pointblanknews.com/News/os3912.html

I like the way you were very specific to state that the MEND leaders that we know.
The big issue is, what about the leaders that we do not know. Are the ones we do not know more than those we know? Since MEND operate in secrecy, they don't like any of their leaders to be known. When Tompolo became known,  MEND encouraged him to accept the amnesty because they felt his life and that of his family will be at risk. Hence its very difficult to know the true strength of the organization. But going by news reports at the time of the amnesty, even the known MEND commanders confirmed that there are still thousands of fighters in the creeks that refused to accept the amnesty. I have also dug up a news article during the time of the amnesty. Take note of the highlighted area.

Please find below the statement made by Farah Dagogo who has been ushered out by MEND. All commanders have been replaced by unknown commanders and the next phase of our campaign will commence soon.

Jomo Gbomo
Statement by Farah Dagogo, Out-Going Commander of MEND

Today October 3, 2009, I Farah Dagogo, overall field commander for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) accepts together with field commanders in Rivers state, the Presidential offer of amnesty to militants who lay down their weapons.

In line with conditions attached to this amnesty offer, we are surrendering all weapons under our direct control.

We are accepting this amnesty with the hope that it will usher in a true spirit of reconciliation exemplified by dialogue and federal presence with an aim to addressing the root cause of militancy in the Niger Delta.

As we signify our willingness to put to test the governments preparedness to address the problems of the people of the Niger Delta,[size=16pt] I appeal to those still determined to fight on, to consider first the option of dialogue.[/size]

In the same vein, it is my sincere desire that the government immediately embarks on dialogue to forestall a resurgence of violence in the Niger Delta.

[size=16pt]There are still thousands of people willing to continue fighting in the creeks and only the actions of the government can win over our brothers still bent on fighting.[/size]

As soldiers, we are not competent to dialogue with the federal government on these serious issues affecting the region.

We wish our brothers and sisters who we hope will commence with the intellectual struggle for justice in the Niger Delta, the very best and pray for a just and peaceful Niger Delta.

Farah Dagogo

princekevo:
This is a clear message to all the selfish NDs who are blindly supporting GEJ. Jonathan in his declaration speech mentioned nothing specifically to address the issue affecting his region neither has he any intention to resume dialogue Yaradua his predecessor started for over 100days in office. All he is busy doing is trying to win himself another 4years in powers.

Someone asked a question which people has failed to answer, is what MEND asking for too big for our government to meet them? Is very easy for a child to hold his father responsible for his misfortunes. Jonathan will receive the highest disaster from MEND he called his people more than any other president from other region, if he failed to solve the problem once and for all.

You are spot on.
This whole problem can be settled within weeks in a round table with MEND.
But why are we not looking at that option?
Is it pride?

Like I said, the proof is, are there not MEND camps in the niger delta creeks today?
You can take a boat there to confirm. The government knows there are still many operating militant camps in the creeks at this very moment.
So who are we deceiving? Why are we trying to play the ostrich and wish MEND existence away like a bad dream.
It is the same attitude by us that have made them grow form a bunch of rag tag gang to the well organized outfit they are today.

We must swallow our pride and face this problem sooner rather than latter.

jamace:
Which MEND are you talking about here again? MEND is not the one one troubling us with bombs. All MEND leaders and some of the foot soldiers were shown LIVE on NTA Network News (9pm) yesterday when they came to pay solidarity visit and denied involvement or link with the bombings.

Take note that a group has threatened and promised to make governance impossible for GEJ should he continue with his ambition to contest for presidential election 2011. I have no doubt they are the one doing this. Read here:
http://www.pointblanknews.com/News/os3912.html

Why do we continue to pretend and deceive ourselves?
How did you know that all MEND commanders accepted the amnesty. I think the biggest problem causing the misunderstanding of MEND is because of the way they operate. They seem to operate in ghost mode hence we cannot tell what % of MEND commanders accepted the amnesty.
But if we are clearly going by news reports at the time of the amnesty, it was very clear the main MEND body didn't accept it. And there was no confusing then who were the real MEND. Below are just a few news articles to shed more light to this.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200908110001.html

That few weapons have so far been turned in is not a surprise, given that many militant groups in the region, including the most notorious, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) have made clear that they do not intend to disarm under the amnesty programme.

In an email interview with IPS, MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo, said that the group has no faith in the amnesty program. "Our position remains the same. We do not identify with an amnesty that does not give room for dialogue and fails to address the root issues that gave birth to the struggle," he says.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-257714.0.html

Instead of instigating a full dialogue with MEND, these people will come out with measures to protect themselves inside a cocoon.

What an ignorant question. It shows that some nigerians have not been paying attention to events.
Does Jomo Gbomo really exist? It is obvious there is no one called Jomo Gbomo. Its just an alias used by MEND. In fact, some people claim Jomo Gbomo actuallly means "the speaker". 

Boyloaf now claim to be the leader of MEND. Why didn't he make this claim when he was accepting the amnesty? During the amnesty, the report was that some militants are accepting amnesty. There was also many reports by MEND that they will not accept the amnesty. Why is it that all of a sudden Asari and Boyloaf now realize they are the leaders of MEND? From the very beginning when MEND started operating, Jomo Gbomo have always been the only official mouthpiece of the group. If Asari or Boyloaf are truly the leaders of MEND, why don't they have access to Jomo Gbomo's email account? The government are just being deceived. MEND have been very consistent. Before they launch any attack, Jomo Gbomo warns about it. Few minutes after they have successfully launched an attack even before the authorities know, Jomo Gbomo is always the first to confirm the attack. That means whoever have access to Jomo gbomo's account  really has first hand knowledge of the operations of MEND.

I believe because of the way MEND operate, some certain commanders who are affiliated to MEND started thinking they are one of the most important bones in the skeleton. Boyloaf thought he was MEND main commander. Even Mr clark at one time thought he has control over the boys. But the truth is that it seems these people only had control over a little part of MEND. Remember MEND has shown its presence in the whole vast niger delta swamp. They have been blowing up oil installations in all the states in the niger delta. Boyloaf's  cannot even know all the militant camps affiliated to MEND in his state how much more the whole niger delta region. Even the governor of delter state at one time thought there is nothing like MEND. But he knows better now.



The proof is in the eating. Why are we pretending and trying to convince ourselves that MEND don't exist?
They made it clear from the beginning that they will not accept the amnesty or submit weapons.
As we speak, are there not many MEND active militant canps operating in the niger delta?
Why are we deceiving ourselves and hiding our head in ignorance like an ostrich.?
When are we going to sit down and negotiate with them once and for all.
This problem will only be resolves by negotiation.

Why is it so difficult to dialogue with these guys?

Why do we always like to ignore or underestimate our problems thinking it will just go away?
Why are we pretending that we don't know MEND didn't submit their weapons during the amnesty?
Why are we pretending as if we don't know there are still many MEND camps operating in the niger delta?
It is not today that MEND started dressing like proper military outfit. 

The picture below of MEND was taken many years ago and as you can see, they look almost the same like in the video only thing is they have added more gadget to their arms.https://www.nigerianinquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/niger-delta-militants-300x252.jpg

Abagworo:
Thank you very much my brother.When I read some posts here,I can't help but laugh.Jonathans support in the core Niger Delta(Rivers,Bayelsa and parts of Delta) as at today is less than 30%.What Niger Deltans want is MEND's demand.People are here discussing irrelevant issues like IBB,Dokpesi etc instead of addressing the real issues.

We Nigerians like to talk a lot about our problems. We have been talking and shouting since Oct 1. But there have been only few talk about finding lasting solution to the problem.

chyz:
I've noticed since the 2-week ultimatum has been over the half-dead guy from the north,ciroma, or whatever his name is has been really quiet. . Its funny because everything that he spoke of his happening. And another thing, since when did MEND start calling Henry Okah their leader again? Something's fishy. Also I thought the presidency reported that MEND denounced the bombings.

It seems to me the government want to recognize only the small MEND faction that accepted the amnesty as the real MEND while ignoring the larger faction. If this is the case, its an unwise move. What is stopping us from sitting in a round table and negotiate with these guys?

I was reading a post in another forum that got me thinking.
MEND's fundamental demands have always been true federalism, devolution of power and some sort of self determination. Are these demands impossible to meet? Would it cost us more to meet this demand than to continue like this in a state of anarchy? Would it cost blood and money to meet them? I thought this is what most people in Nigeria have been calling for especially Wole Soyinka.

We have appeased many of the ground militant with amnesty and monthly pay package. With the recent effort to develop the region we have also won those factions within the militant that say development of the region is a paramount thing. The last faction of the militant who want true federalism so that the ongoing development is not scuttled in future are what remains. Is it not easier and cheaper to negotiate with these last faction than to live with these embarrassment and harassment continually.

I know some people will say we should never give in to terrorist but i feel we have to look into their demands to see if it is genuine or ridiculous. Most Nigerians will agree that true federalism will kick start the development of the whole country but why are we so slow to act? Is it not this same demands the progressives all over the country have been calling for? Even if we cannot implement the full true federalism right now since many states and regions wholly depend on the oil revenue for survival, can we at least negotiate with MEND and explain thing to them? Can we agree a situation with them to introduce true federalism in phases that last stretch to about twenty years? By then all the regions and states would have developed their mineral export base.

Obasanjo missed a good opportunity to negotiate with Asari militant group. He didn't and wanted to use force but it only made the situation worse with the birth of MEND. Yaradua also missed another opportunity to negotiate with MEND when he offered the amnesty. I remember MEND demanding for talks with the government then. Since we know we cannot eliminate MEND, the more we leave them without negotiating, the more they become deadlier. Can we just imagine for a minute what MEND would be like in ten years time seeing they are already a torn in the flesh now?

Even the British had to see reason and negotiate with the IRA. I know we Nigerians have a large dose of pride but in this case, I believe we have to remove our pride and do the right thing that will guarantee peace and stability in the country. Since the British negotiated with the IRA, there have been peace in the country. Imagine if they didn't, we would still be having bomb blast in Britain. I believe this fight with MEND is a fight we should avoid. It cannot bring any good.

Why the hate? Didn't Rabadu claim the story is false?

I was reading a post in another forum that got me thinking.
MEND's fundamental demands have always been true federalism, devolution of power and some sort of self determination. Are these demands impossible to meet? Would it cost us more to meet this demand than to continue like this in a state of anarchy? Would it cost blood and money to meet them? I thought this is what most people in Nigeria have been calling for especially Wole Soyinka.

We have appeased many of the ground militant with amnesty and monthly pay package. With the recent effort to develop the region we have also won those factions within the militant that say development of the region is a paramount thing. The last faction of the militant who want true federalism so that the ongoing development is not scuttled in future are what remains. Is it not easier and cheaper to negotiate with these last faction than to live with these embarrassment and harassment continually.

I know some people will say we should never give in to terrorist but i feel we have to look into their demands to see if it is genuine or ridiculous. Most Nigerians will agree that true federalism will kick start the development of the whole country but why are we so slow to act? Is it not this same demands the progressives all over the country have been calling for?  Even if we cannot implement the full true federalism right now since many states and regions wholly depend on the oil revenue for survival, can we at least negotiate with MEND and explain thing to them? Can we agree a situation with them to introduce true federalism in phases that last stretch to about twenty years? By then all the regions and states would have developed their mineral export base.

Obasanjo missed a good opportunity to negotiate with Asari militant group. He didn't and wanted to use force but it only made the situation worse with the birth of MEND. Yaradua also missed another opportunity to negotiate with MEND when he offered the amnesty. I remember MEND demanding for talks with the government then. Since we know we cannot eliminate MEND, the more we leave them without negotiating, the more they become deadlier. Can we just imagine for a minute  what MEND would be like in ten years time seeing they are already a torn in the flesh now?

Even the British had to see reason and negotiate with the IRA. I know we Nigerians have a large dose of pride but in this case, I believe we have to remove our pride and do the right thing that will guarantee peace and stability in the country. Since the British negotiated with the IRA, there have been peace in the country. Imagine if they didn't, we would still be having bomb blast in Britain. I believe this fight with MEND is a fight we should avoid. It cannot bring any good.

chyz:
The bolded is a damn good question.

Example abound all over the world where events less important went ahead even when there were bomb blast.

ChinenyeN:
Isolated bomb blast and bloody revolution are not synonymous. So there is no double-sided-ness going on.

Seems some of you don't know what you want or don't understand what is involved in what you want.

I didn't know people are so smart, they can even tell if a person exist or not just by hearing their names.

Umamman:
I see no difference btw yan'boko haram,yan'darul islam and mend.
If nigerian security can get rid of darul islam what are they waiting with MEND.

This is an ignorant statement.
If the government can get rid of MEND, they would have done so a long time ago.

The more you look, the less you see.

oyb
Was it wrong for her to distribute rice to poor people? I still don't understand the beaf behind that.
It would be nice to see you explain why it was a bad idea to the man with tie who was smiling andcarrying a bag of rice on his head.

Even the Ameachi stuff was blown out of proportion. There is a conspiracy going on and many people have been swallowed up unknowingly.

Poster, you are getting at something and its big.
There is an underlying bias and ignorance at work.
Did I also mention conspiracy?,

Why is saharareport stalking mrs Goodluck?
What do they have against her? This is getting ridiculous.
My respect for saharareport is beginning to ebb.

9ijaMan:
@ Ehoi,
The contradictions I meant to correct are in bold above. Donwload the figues for states and there respective LGs. Add the total figures together and come up with a single figure for every state of the federation. Tell us what you find. Are the ND states still being[b] short changed[/b]? Are the ND states getting more than other states?

You sure did make some correct statement, but I said you cannot defend all that you've stated.

As someone stated earlier, despite all these huge allocations going into the ND states, Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Total, Agip etc will not go to some remote village in Kwara, Oyo, Zafara or Kebbi states to provide them with food roads and infrastructures.

If the truth be told, the ND leaders are the worst enemies of the region!

9ijaMan
I still stand by my assertions. I noted that in some areas the niger delta states are short changed. Lets take for example Kano state and bayelsa state according to the figures in the link you provided. After adding the 13% derivation, Bayelsa states get about N4.7 billion monthly while kano state gets about N2.9 billion. When we move to the money paid to the LGA in the states, we see that Kano state have 44 LGA while Bayelsa have only 8. That means Kano state is getting about five times more paid to their LGA than Bayelsa state LGA. So in actual fact Kano state may be getting more gross income than Bayelsa state. Then when you consider the fact that it cost about five times more to construct a road in Bayelsa's swampy terrain than in Kano,  you may start to understand what am saying. In terms of actual development capability, kano state is getting more income than Bayelsa.

You link prove my point.

9ijaMan
Thanks for the link, it was very useful and informative.
But still, I cannot see why you say it contradicts what I have said.
Please can you be more specific.

Kobojunkie:
Again, yes, the states have been getting billions more in allocations each year, along with direct funds from the oil companies in the area put aside for development, running up to a billion dollars in the past 4 or 5 years alone.
Now, considering allocation ratio, one could actually argue that states like Kaduna, Plateau, Enugu, and just as developed as one can claim for many of the ND states. Consider what goes in and what comes out and you immediately get the sense that ND states are sincerely not as developed as they ought to be. Try to argue that please!No, I don't have to do that because it is not other states coming up with a terrorist group they want us to brand HEROS. That is a ridiculous copout. No one is asking for development of land or that you go deep in the swamps looking for land to develop . . . development has little to do with land, please stop already. lol
Even if land has to be developed, how much of it has actually been done with all the money available to these areas?

I never went into details and never intended to, but thanks for trying to break it down. Unfortunately you didn't do full justice to it.
13% is taken aside for the niger delta states. Then federal government takes about 50% of the remaining 87%. Th other fifty percent is shared among the states  (niger delta including) and local government. But remember, all the states don't get the same allocation. The system is made to be less favourable to the niger delta states. Then there is the issue to allocations to the local government areas. Most LGA get about the same but the trick is, some states have about twice the number of LGA than other states. Here again the niger delta states are mostly short changed. When you put these into perspective you will realise that the niger delta states are not really getting as much as we think.

Kobojunkie:
First correction, that would be SOME factions of MEND, not all refused the  Amnesty deal. By the way, since we have yet to hear much from all of them in about a year, it makes sense to conclude that the faction that did was the main.
I do ask myself that, and then I also ask myself as well what the ND does with the billions more it gets over the rest. So you see, for someone like me, I actually consider them ALL, and not EXCUSE the one while I hammer the others as if they are worse off or something that inane.

About three MEND commanders agreed to the amnesty. Actually only one (Tompolo) willingly agred. the other two were encouraged by MEND to accept it because their true identity have already been know. And all these commanders were immediately replace with weapons intact.
It is obvious why MEND have not caused trouble since. They declared a ceasefire to give the government an opportunity to do the right thing.

The niger delta is only getting some billions more over the rest today, but my argument is what have the rest been doing with the billions they have been getting in the last 50 years? Besides, when you calculate the money given to the local governments, you will realise that the niger delta states are not getting as much as you think because there are fewer local government areas in most niger delta states. I know this may be new to you.

And when you also consider that it cost five times more to construct a project in the niger delta than elsewhere, you would realise that even right now, the niger delta states are getting less than other states in term of development capabilities.

sbeezy8:
[size=13pt]I wish for federalism so these jobless Illiterate fool.s can live their lives without disturbing INNOCENT PEOPLE.[/size]

They are too scared to go against the military rulers and crimina generals like Danjuma who made 500 million from the sale of his Oil well, who brought Nigeria to its knees by having Nigeria dependant around Oil.

sbeezy
Your wish is their wish. They too want federalism so that they don't have to deal with people in Abuja anymore.
So you see, you both want the same thing.

sbeezy8:
^^ right terrorist are terrorist, after all taliban is fighting for their people and SOME people do see them in the same light as Niger deltans may see MEND.

I think MEND and Taliban and northern boko haram are all the same and deserve the same treatment

I dont get this davidylan guy he makes no FUKIN sense

and like I said before It doesnt matter how people view themselves it matters how majority of others view them.
Whether you are a freedom fight FINE, its ok but IF everyone else looks at you as a terrorist you are.

Your bolded sentence reveals a lot about your mindset. Its the mindset of majority takes all and the voice of the minority can be dismissed. Do you know it is that mentality that has got us in this problem today? You cannot dismiss the concerns of the minority just because they are minority. And you beware not to do it to a minority that have your balls in his hands.

Kobojunkie:
I am sorry but I think you mistake me for someone else. First off, note the meaning of the word AMNESTY please. The AMNESTY package was a pardon which I considered a useless one considering these were stone cold criminals who went all out to not only attack and kill CIVILIANS but disrupt the nation's economy with claims of making life better for those they help deprive of a better life.

They tell us they fight for ND but continue avoiding any direct attacks on the politicians that embezzle money in the millions of pounds that ought to go to developing life in the area. Innocent civilians have had their lives disrupted for years by this group, while the politicians have not had to take a break from embezzlement practices in all that time. To save face (and probably avoid actually tackling the issue) the government offered AMNESTY. I expected a refusal but I saw we were only dealing greedy Nigerians at the end of the day. Unfortunately, a sweet deal was reached and the members were initiated into the hall of corruption, along with those destroying the nation.

That Wole Soyinka jumped on the bandwagon for a period does not in any way legitimize the group.  I am glad he has since removed himself from all this and has moved on to finding other groups to work with instead. I have never really cared what MEND wants. Resource control will eventually come but the area continues to recieve at least 30% more in allocations each month compared to a majority of the states in the country. In addition to that Oil companies have contributed close to, if not well over a billion dollars in at least 5 years to development in the area but a trip down there will reveal that all that money seems to go down the pockets of fellow ND leader and nowhere else. All I see with MEND is a bunch of terrorists taking advantage of the people of the ND in order to get themselves a piece of that National/Local cake. Ever since they got their AMNESTY deal, how many of them have actually tried in any way to use that money to help develop any ND area? How many have actually tried to move their people, whom they all claimed to be fighting for, forward? NONE

I just think your idea of having government negotiate with terrorists is ludicrous in this case because this particular group does not even seem to care for what it claims to care for, and that is the people. So why would bringing them to the table again, and humiliating a whole nation again, help anyone?

You are basing most of your argument on a flawed foundation. First of all MEND never accepted the amnesty. The amnesty was more for the criminal elements of the niger delta struggle. There are many militants groups in the niger delta but not all militant groups are MEND. I think its very important to understand deeply the issues in the niger delta so that we can all have educative discussion.

Now to the issue of you raised in the first part of your post, common. Why don't you ask yourself what the rest of nigeria is doing with the 87% of the oil revenue they get as freebies from the niger delta yearly? What have they been doing with it. Nigeria is a oil driven economy and most jobs available are because of the trickle effect of oil. What have you my sister, been doing with your salary to aid the people of the niger delta since your job is directly or indirectly a product of the oil drilled from the niger delta? Or forget about the delta, what have you used you salary to do to enhance your local community? Apart from Lagos which has an advantage of being the former capital, which other state in nigeria would you say is more developed than the states of the niger delta? The niger delta states have only in the last ten years been getting 13% of oil revenue. Tell me what the other states in the country have been doing with the oil freebies since the last 50 years? Considering that it cost five times more to develop a land in the deep swamp than in the normal ground, I don't think anyone has the moral right to point fingers at the niger delta states because its will be like pot calling kettle black. Having said that, I belive there is massive corruption going on the niger delta but that is not limited to the delta alone. Its all over nigeria.

oyb:
so who are the people who have been raising all sorts of hell because of allowance?

so why did we have a ceasefire for the past 8 months or so?

so why have they been mostly silent?

or are those two more of the factions in mend

I wouldn't know all the answers to most of your question but I know that MEND normally gives a new government an opportunity to meet their demands. And when they think the government is not serious, that is when they start problems. They gave yaradua government many months of grace before they started fighting. Though they were not part of the amnesty, they had an official ceasefire to give the Yaradua government time and space to make good its promises.

If you don't know who have been shouting because of the allowance, it means you know very little of the niger delta crises and the organization structure of MEND and the militants. I cannot be of help to you there but one thing you need to know is that, if you cut off the toes of an animal and leave the head and body intact, that animal is still alive and well.