Lucky Omas
17 August 2018, Sweetcrude, Warri, Delta State — The Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Professor Charles Dokubo has been urged to integrate a batch of ex-militants who were documented since 2011 by security agencies.
A statement in Warri, Delta state by President, Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, Mr Austin Ozobo said it was sad that seven years after they dropped their weapons they had not been admitted into the amnesty program, adding that the new Coordinator of the programme, Professor Dokubo should not delay further over their admittance.
“Our attention has been drawn to the continued delay in integrating ex_agitators of the third phase into the amnesty programme after embracing the programme. Some of the groups to be integrated are Asam Camp, Led by General Mighty man, Forest soldiers camp, led by General Ogailo Iborry, Bright Camp led by General Rufus Bright, Odobu Camp, led by Lawyer Odobu, Orlagba camp, led by General Philip Silver Orlagba and others,” he said.
They were properly documented by the government and the JTF since 2011. They submitted arms and ammunition and embraced the federal government Amnesty programme under the third phase of the programme but since been neglected and abandoned. They are yet to be carried along or given a place in the programme after following all the due processes. A lot of them have died of starvation and terminal diseases due to lack of fund for proper medication.
We demand that all their entitlements be paid starting from 2011 when they embraced the federal government amnesty programme to date. The government should not act in a way that may look like the affected militants were deceived to embrace the programme, because such actions depict dangerous implications on the existing peace in the Niger Delta region.”, the group noted.
The Ijaw group also enjoined the amnesty office to stop payment of stipends of ex-militants through their ex-leaders, noting that at the end of the day the money does not get to the ex-militants.
According to the group, some corrupt officials of the amnesty office allegedly connive with the ex-militant commanders to divert money meant for the ex-militants, saying that this should be investigated and stopped.
“We strongly condemn paying money of amnesty beneficiaries to powerful ex-militant leaders,” the group said.