The federal government has released 54 Niger Delta fighters of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), held in prison custody since 2010.

MEND in a statement yesterday commended the government for the release of its former Commander, Mr. Tamunotonye Kuna. a.k.a ‘Commander Obese’ and 53 fighters under his command, held at the Port Harcourt Prison without trial since December 2010.

The militant group said Mr. Kuna voluntarily submitted weapons, gunboats and several items to the Joint Task Force (JTF) after being deceived that he would be a beneficiary of the amnesty programme and lucrative pipeline protection contracts.

The group said the fighter was subsequently arrested while the JTF lied to Nigerians that he was captured after an attack on his camp in River state.

MEND claimed that the militant’s prolonged incarceration was as a result of his refusal to become a false witness against Henry Okah in South Africa and his brother, Charles Okah in Nigeria.

MEND however called on the government to consider the further unconditional release of other MEND detainees held “on trumped-up charges” with alleged link to the group such as the Okah brothers.

•Excerpted from a Peoples Daily report. Photo shows MEND fighters.