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MEND Demands Prisoner Swap For The Release Of Abducted School Girls
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) supports a prisoner exchange initiative with Boko Haram towards the release of the Chibok School girls as the only viable safe option and the threshold towards maintaining contact, further ceasefire and eventual long-term peace and security in that region.
In a statement issued by Jomo Gbomo Tuesday, “From our experience, it is impossible for any forceful Commando-type rescue in forests or creeks to be successful.”
The Niger Delta Militant group say the Israelis encouraging such a move should understand that Sambisa Forest is a different kettle of fish from Entebbe International Air
Meanwhile, MEND commended the Nigerian Government for the release of the groups former Commander, Mr Tamunotonye Kuna aka ‘Commander Obese’ and fifty-three (53) fighters “under his command held at the Port Harcourt Prison without trial since December 2010.”
According to the group, Mr Kuna, voluntarily submitted weapons, gunboats and several items to the Joint Task Force (JTF) after being deceived that he would be a beneficiary of the Amnesty Programme and lucrative pipeline protection contracts. He was subsequently arrested while the JTF lied to Nigerians that he was captured after an attack on his camp in RiverState.
“His prolonged incarceration was as a result of his refusal to become a false witness against Henry Okah in South Africa and his brother Charles Okah in Nigeria. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) urges the Government to consider the further unconditional release of other MEND detainees held on trumped-up charges with alleged link to the group such as the Okah brothers.”
