Former Niger Delta militants urge Avengers to join in government talks

By Tife Owolabi YENAGOA, Nigeria (Reuters) - A group of Nigerian former militants have urged the Niger Delta Avengers, who have claimed responsibility for a recent string of attacks on oil and gas facilities, to join in discussions with the government, a statement said on Sunday. Last week, the Avengers said they would not cooperate with a government initiative to start talks with them and other militants over their demands for a greater share of oil wealth and pollution in the impoverished southern swamp area. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said: "If indeed your cause is to avenge the injustice done to the Niger Delta region then, we urge you to ceasefire and join us to the table of negotiation with the federal Government." MEND, one of largest militant groups until it signed up for a government amnesty in 2009, said in a statement it had nominated a team of negotiators on its own behalf.

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