Festus Ahon
03 January 2012, Sweetcrude, UGHELLI – SOME aggrieved ex-militants in the Niger Delta, yesterday, barricaded the East/West road in protest against their exclusion from the Federal Government Amnesty programme, yet again.
The ex-militants, set up burn tyres at Oghoro junction on the ever busy East/West Road, barricaded the road from 2am till about 9:30am, causing grid lock on the road.
Early hour travelers were made to spend several hours to drive through the barricaded area of the road, even as some travelers who could not stand the songs being chanted by the aggrieved ex-militants fled into the bush for safety.
Spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, Lt Col Timothy Antigha, confirmed the incident. He added that they mobilized to the scene of the protest on getting wind of it.
Antigha in telephone chat with our correspondent said they arrested one of the leaders of the aggrieved ex-militants, Mr Ramsey Umukoro, adding that he was being interrogated at press time.
According to him, Mr Ramsey Umukoro would be handed over to the police for prosecution at the end of their interrogation.
Also speaking to newsmen, Area Commander, Ughelli Area Police Command, Mr Bassey Essien said they got wind of the blockade at about 2am, adding that he immediately dispatched men to the troubled area to put the situation under control.
