The Nigerian government has agreed with militant groups on a one-month ceasefire in the Niger Delta region hit by a surge in attacks on oil and gas facilities, a petroleum ministry official said on Tuesday.
The deal includes the Niger Delta Avengers, a group which has claimed responsibility for a string of attacks, said the official, who asking not to be identified.
“It was very difficult getting the Niger Delta Avengers to the negotiating table but we eventually did through a proxy channel and achieved the truce,” the official said.
Elombah.com reported that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu had been traversing the Niger Delta region with his ongoing negotiations for peace with stakeholders in Niger Delta region, especially with the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA.
There had been palpable anxiety yesterday as all eyes are on President Muhammadu Buhari to see whether the Federal Government will extend the two-week ceasefire on Niger Delta expiring today and government’s conditions for an all-embracing dialogue with stakeholders, including militants.