Nigerian president meets with militants to discuss solution for peace in oil-rich Delta region

Nigeria president meets with militants for peace

ABUJA, Nigeria — A spokesman for Nigeria’s president says the leader met with a team of negotiators from the country’s main militant group for the first time since the group declared an indefinite cease-fire to find a lasting solution for peace in the oil-rich Delta region.

Olusegun Adeniyi says that President Umaru Yar’Adua met with representatives from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta Saturday.

Jomo Gbomo, MEND spokesman, said Sunday the meeting was useful and heralds the beginning of serious, meaningful dialogue between the group and the government.

MEND declared an indefinite cease-fire on Oct. 25 to encourage such dialogue.

Attacks in the Delta region had cut Nigeria’s oil production by about a million barrels a day.