By Emma Amaize & Egufe Yafugborhi

WARRI—OFFICIALS of the United States of America, USA, are currently holding strategic meetings with opinion leaders and stakeholders in Niger Delta region on the way out of the crisis plaguing the region.

The team, led by Chief Economic and Political Adviser of the US Consulate in Lagos, Mr. Thomas Hines, was said to have met with Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, about four days ago, in Delta State.

Meanwhile, Clark, named by Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA, as one of the sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, has rebutted the allegation.

Chief Clark, who spoke to Vanguard, said: “I have no hand in Niger Delta Avengers. I do not know the boys and I do not know who is sponsoring them.

“I am the first person to condemn the Niger Delta Avengers when they started because I know that what they are doing is wrong. Former President Goodluck Jonathan had just left office after about five and a half years or so and a new man, President Muhammdu Buhari has entered, I do not see why they should trouble him.

“I called on the ex-militant leaders that we know, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, Ateke Tom, Boyloaf and others that I know, that they had an agreement with the Federal Government when they accepted amnesty. My position is that if there is any aspect not being implemented, they should point it out to the government.”

The US delegation also met with the former national chairman of  Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria, TROMPCON, and the paramount ruler of Siembiri Kingdom, Delta State, HRM Charles Ayemi-Botu, at his Warri Palace annex  during the week.

However, Secretary of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILoT, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, told Vanguard when contacted, yesterday, that the delegation had not met with Itsekiri leader, Pa J O S Ayomike.

While the US team was brainstorming with others,  an Ijaw militant group, Niger Delta Suicides, has warned that the conflict could degenerate to ethnic battle shortly, considering the way President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress, APC, were allegedly handling the matter.

The US team started its interface in May with a view to assisting the Nigerian government to solve the insecurity problem in the Niger Delta.

Member representing Burutu I Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly and Chairman of the House Committee on Oil and Gas, Mr Daniel Yingi, received Mr. Hines and his entourage at the palace of HRM Ayemi-Botu on Wednesday.

They went into a closed-door meeting with the monarch, his chiefs and other stakeholders for several hours. Mr Hines, disclosed that the US government was meeting with various stakeholders in the Niger Delta region with a view to finding solution to the insecurity problem in the region.

The paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, Pere  Ayemi Botu, commended the US government for its interest in bringing peace to the Niger Delta region, saying that as a foremost monarch in the region, he was working relentlessly to ensure that lasting peace was restored to the region.

He blamed the insecurity problem on the gross under development of the area despite producing the nation’s resources.

The monarch appealed to the US government to prevail on President Buhari to resolve the problem through dialogue, stressing that no meaningful development could take place in an atmosphere of rancour.