TheCable

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says militant groups operating in the Niger Delta region are confused.

According to PUNCH, Mohammed Garba-Deen, spokesman of the corporation, said this while responding to inquiries on the federal government’s negotiation with the militants.

He was quoted as saying the inability of the militants to abide by the ceasefire agreement announced earlier in the month, and the dissenting voices among the various agitating groups in the region were proof of confusion among them.

Garba-Deen reportedly said the confusion has triggered serious concern in the ministry of petroleum, making made government to be cautious.

“There is no confusion on the part of the federal ministry of petroleum resources. If anybody is confused, it is the militants that are confused because they are disorganized,” he was quoted to have said.

“They have refused to organise themselves into one, instead they have NDA, MEND and many others.

“So under this circumstance, the petroleum ministry is taking its time so that it does not negotiate with the wrong people. And that is not confusion. That is caution. The situation is causing concern and not confusion on our side, because we will like a situation where a credible and authentic group emerges.

“And whichever group emerges, it should have all the backing of those making agitations in the Niger Delta. So, it is therefore important to state that we are not confused but cautious, because from all indications, the confusion is on the part of the militants from the region.”