Abuja — The Federal Government has reacted to reports that the United State's Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton, during her recent visit to Nigeria, said Nigerian Government, in collaboration with the U.S., will totally wipe out Niger- Delta militants, in order to protect American investments.Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili,

In a statement, said the Federal Government is saddened by the misinterpretation of Clinton's speech by the media. Akunyili said, "during recent visit of the United State's Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton to Nigeria, she promised among other things, the willingness of American government to assist Nigeria in resolving the Niger Delta crisis."

Since that pronouncement, some people and groups have misconstrued her statement to mean that American government intends to assist the Federal Government to wipe out Niger Delta militants, so as to protect American investments in Nigeria, especially Chevron Oil Company. "Government is saddened by this development and views it as an attempt by people to truncate implementation of the amnesty initiative, which has so far recorded a huge success."The statement credited to Clinton is straight forward and should not be given any negative interpretation.

The American Government always mean well for Nigerians, and they have been at the forefront in the fight for human rights and justice all over the world. They cannot, therefore, ignore the crisis in Nigeria, and will never think of wiping out Niger Deltans, just to protect investment of one company in Nigeria."