Nigeria Planning Peace Talks With Militants To End Oil Attacks

The Nigerian government has said that they are open to establish peace talks with local militants in the country’s oil producing region in order to bring an end to the oil attacks that have been happening as of late.

Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Nigeria’s junior Oil Minister, has said that they are prepared to engage in conversation with the militants and that they could possibly put a hold on military activity in the area while the talks take place:

“…Probably, we will suspend the operations of the military in the region for a week or two for individuals in the creeks to converge for the dialogue,” he said.

He also said that President Muhammadu Buhari was interested in talking to the militants:

“…interested in dialogue and has mandated the military to halt actions for about two weeks to ensure a team that will be led by the national security adviser dialogue with the militants to ensure peace in the region,”

The attacks by these local militant groups – the biggest calling themselves the Niger Delta Avengers – has seriously put a damper on oil production in Nigeria, with oil production being at it’s lowest ever.

Kachikwu has encouraged the militants to engage in the talks so that a truce could be formed:

“…The avenue is open for them, provided the militants are willing to embrace dialogue and allow truce to reign,” he said.