Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed how he put his life on the line to secure peace in the Niger Delta, recounting a harrowing mission in which he entered a militant camp without armed security to negotiate an end to the violence that had crippled Nigeria's oil-producing region. Jonathan made the disclosure on Monday, July 20, 2026, while delivering the chairman's address at the De Mangrove Conversation, organised in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Renaissance Africa Energy and the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation at the NCDMB Conference Hall in Yenagoa. The former president said his experience as a scientist, governor, vice president and president gave him a unique perspective on the challenges facing the region.
Recalling the events that led to the birth of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, Jonathan said he personally led negotiations with militants while serving as vice president and insisted on visiting one of their camps despite strong objections from security officials. According to him, the decision helped build trust and paved the way for dialogue that eventually contributed to the peace process and the implementation of the amnesty programme. "As the vice president, I was to go and negotiate to bring peace to the Niger Delta. And I was to visit all the camps, including Camp One that you all know very well and who headed it, all the boys disturbing all facilities respect those in Camp One," Jonathan said.
The former president painted a vivid picture of the high-stakes mission. "As a vice president, I flew to Warri, to the water front with my security. When we got to the other front, the Niger Delta militants sent words across to me that they were ready to receive me, but nobody should carry gun and follow me and that if any of my team members carry a weapon, there will be exchange of fire." The Commissioner of Police in Delta State and the State Director of the State Security Service both advised him against proceeding, warning of the grave danger. "The Commissioner of Police in Delta State said 'Mr Vice President, you will not go.' The State Director of SSS said 'Sir, you will not go.' I told them I will go. There must be peace and development in the Niger Delta," Jonathan declared.
Determined to pursue peace, Jonathan ordered that no one in uniform should accompany him into the camp. Only his Chief Security Officer and Aide-de-Camp followed, and he directed them to hand over their guns to the Commissioner of Police and the state director of the SSS. "I told them if we come back alive, you get your guns back and we will go back to Abuja," he said. Upon arrival at the camp, Jonathan and his team walked through two lines of armed militants, one facing each way, with assorted rifles. "When we arrived at the camp, there were two lines of young people, one facing this way, the other one facing this way, with assorted rifles. From there, they lined up to where I was holding meeting on both sides, we passed in-between the two lines, we moved through them, of course that's a story for another day," he recounted.
The negotiation lasted about one and a half hours. "When we had the negotiation that lasted about one and a half hour, then we returned to Abuja and things started to unfold, that meeting led to the birth of Amnesty granted to the Niger Delta militants, and other things, Amnesty is still there till today. That was the beginning of peace in the Niger Delta region," Jonathan said. He stressed that the development of the Niger Delta must remain a national priority, adding that lasting peace in the region depends on addressing environmental degradation and decades of neglect.
The De Mangrove Conversation, which brought together stakeholders from government, the oil industry, and civil society, provided a platform for Jonathan to reflect on his role in one of Nigeria's most significant peace initiatives. His remarks come at a time when the Niger Delta continues to grapple with environmental degradation, underdevelopment, and sporadic unrest, underscoring the ongoing relevance of the amnesty programme he helped midwife. The former president's account of his unarmed visit to the militants' camp has been widely reported across Nigerian media, with many hailing his courage and commitment to peace.
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