Chuks Okocha
25 September 2008
Abuja — Officials of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Clark yesterday accused the federal government and the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta of breaching the terms and conditions of the ceasefire declared Monday by the militants to stop the 'oil war'.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Nicon Hilton Hotel, Abuja , Clark and officials of MEND accused the federal government and the military task force of attacking the camp of one of the leaders of the militants, Ateke Tom.
Clark who spoke first said, "news just came to us that the JTF is attacking the camp of Ateke Tom, inspite of the ceasefire. The JTF is fully aware of the truce being negotiated, but decided to attack again Ateke Tom's camp unprovoked , far away from Port Harcourt with helicopters, killing and damaging properties belonging to the militant leader . The militants have therefore decided threatened to defend themselves as they have been doing in the past."
Clark said further that "it is ridiculous and fraudulent for the military to lie to the federal government and Nigerians that it was not at war with the militants and that none of their soldiers or oil installations have been destroyed by the militants
"We are alerting the whole world that the militants should not be blamed for any action of retaliation. What is happening is that the federal government is not in control of the JTF or that they are lying to Nigerians,"he said.
Clark who lamented the effects of the continued military hostilities in the Niger Delta called on government to caution the support which the Governor of Rivers state., Hon Chibuike Amaechi is giving to the JTF, stressing that military option would never solve the Niger Delta crisis.
He also accused the JTF of using the option of the military tactics in the Niger Delta to engage in illegal oil bunkering.
Speaking also one of the officials of MEND who was seated right beside Clark said that they adopted the ceasefire to give peace a chance,affirming that the latest attack on the camps of Ateke Tom is like salt on an injury, stating, "We will always find a way to defend ourselves whenever we are attacked."
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