The militants in the Niger Delta are reaching out to the Nigerian federal government in a move to negotiate a ceasefire and peace deal, local media reported on Sunday.

They are also calling for the release of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, and mass employment of youths in the region by oil companies in the region.

According to lagos-based newspaper the Nation, the militants have been wielding contacts in the government circle to reach a truce.

It said some of the militants had also contacted Niger Delta leaders, whose influence could help manage talks with the government to resolve the ongoing conflict amicably.

A source in the Presidency has confirmed the development, but refused to give further details on the conciliators between the two parties.

He said the government might consider the rapprochement from the militants if they are sincere.

"The militant leaders have been making overtures to government that they are ready to lay down their arms but they do not trust many of their political leaders," he said.

"They also want to be sure of the terms of the amnesty they will be granted. The government of President Umaru Yar'Adua is not opposed to the ceasefire offer from the militants," he declared.

Meanwhile, one of MEND's commanders expressed anger that it was betrayed by some militants and few Ijaw leaders.

The commander deflated the operation success by the military in Delta State, saying it cost only a few hundreds of Naira (local currency) to build a new camp.

"So, the military can only reduce the rate; they can't eliminate it. Those that were displaced would soon regroup, with the assistance of the upland fighters, the struggle will continue" he said.

The military has destroyed several militant camps in the oil rich Niger Delta since launching a push, dubbed Operation Restore Hope, on May 13. An elite Joint Task Force vows to clear the region of crimes ranging from kidnappings to pipeline blow-ups.

Farah Dagogo, commander of one of MEND's largest factions, said he could also hold off further attacks on the oil industry if it starts hiring more locals.

The militant leader acknowledged that his group attacked oil facilities in September in "a joint operation" with other MEND factions.

The attacks on pipelines, plants and platforms operated by Chevron Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC have halted up to 115,000 barrels a day of oil production -- nearly 6 percent of the country's total.

"We want to stop our attacks on oil facilities.We are telling the foreign oil companies to come back. The reason why we attacked them is that they don't employ anybody where they work," Dagogo was quoted as saying.

Foreign oil companies have reduced their operations onshore in the Delta or have frozen new projects because of the unrest.

(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2009)