In Nigeria, Last Main Militant Group in Niger Delta Offers Truce in Exchange for Amnesty

VOA

16 May 2011

In Nigeria, Last Main Militant Group in Niger Delta Offers Truce in Exchange for Amnesty

In Nigeria, the last significant militant group in the oil-rich Niger Delta has called for a truce with the government, offering to disband and disarm in exchange for amnesty from prosecution.

The Nigeria Delta Liberation Force is a breakaway faction of the main group, MEND, and has been fighting government forces since its leader, John Togo, rejected the amnesty deal offered by the government.

Security officials say the militant group could not cope with the fire power of the troops deployed in the area, but a group spokesman says it wants to give President Goodluck Jonathan time to implement key parts of the amnesty program.