There was a security scare yesterday along the creeks and waterways of Delta and Bayelsa states following reports about the outcome of the meeting of some ex-militant leaders on the alleged 4,000 slots approved by the presidency for inclusion in the amnesty programme.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the operatives of the Joint Military Task Force, on receiving information that the ex-militant generals had rejected the reported offer as inadequate embarked on repeated patrols with gun boats along the waters as a show of force preparatory to a planned protest.
Our correspondent gathered that the ex-militant leaders from the six states of the Niger Delta met at the weekend over the proposed provision of 4,000 slots for the agitating ex-militants excluded from the amnesty programme and rejected the offer as dangerous and could lead to violence between the ex-militant leaders and their followers.
The meeting, which was held in Yenagoa with the theme: Third Phase Ex-militants,' and under the close observation of the representatives of some civil society groups, including the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and the Environmental Rights Action (ERA), argued that such offer was a Greek gift and not enough for one out of the six states in the region.
Speaking during the meeting at the weekend, the National Chairman of Third Phase, Comrade Oyakemeagbegha, known on the creeks and waterways as General Ramsey Umukoro, said that though the series of meetings held with the newly appointed National Security Adviser (NSA) was yielding results, the slot allotted to the Third Phase by the Federal Government was grossly inadequate.
He said, "Our members cut across the entire Niger Delta and that figure is not even enough for one state. We expect the Federal Government to approach this issue in the proper way."
And that is, they should go back to the records at the various points at which we surrendered our arms to the JTF. And we want the amnesty office to confirm this from the JTF.
"Information reaching me indicates that a verification team will be visiting the Niger Delta soon. Even at that, we must not be verified in our absence; we need to be notified and be part of the process, especially the leaders to confirm what was recorded at the various points where the arms were surrendered.
"The pattern the first phase was taken should be followed and not the second phase that was not properly done. We do not want this exercise to cause problem between our foot soldiers and us, the leaders".
Another ex-militant leader at the meeting, General Ike Emmanuel from Agbaru, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, observed that over 80 foot soldiers were under his command and that the slot allocated by the Federal Government to third phase was inadequate.
"How many will come to me and my boys? If I am given even ten slots what about the rest of the boys? I am appealing to the government to do the right thing once and for all so that peace will be everywhere. Some of our boys have died and some injured; what are we going to do about them? What am I going to tell relations of those who were in my camp, under me? Even for my treatment now, I don't have money to buy even urine bag and other medical services," Emmanuel said.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the operatives of the Joint Military Task Force, on receiving information that the ex-militant generals had rejected the reported offer as inadequate embarked on repeated patrols with gun boats along the waters as a show of force preparatory to a planned protest.
Our correspondent gathered that the ex-militant leaders from the six states of the Niger Delta met at the weekend over the proposed provision of 4,000 slots for the agitating ex-militants excluded from the amnesty programme and rejected the offer as dangerous and could lead to violence between the ex-militant leaders and their followers.
The meeting, which was held in Yenagoa with the theme: Third Phase Ex-militants,' and under the close observation of the representatives of some civil society groups, including the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and the Environmental Rights Action (ERA), argued that such offer was a Greek gift and not enough for one out of the six states in the region.
Speaking during the meeting at the weekend, the National Chairman of Third Phase, Comrade Oyakemeagbegha, known on the creeks and waterways as General Ramsey Umukoro, said that though the series of meetings held with the newly appointed National Security Adviser (NSA) was yielding results, the slot allotted to the Third Phase by the Federal Government was grossly inadequate.
He said, "Our members cut across the entire Niger Delta and that figure is not even enough for one state. We expect the Federal Government to approach this issue in the proper way."
And that is, they should go back to the records at the various points at which we surrendered our arms to the JTF. And we want the amnesty office to confirm this from the JTF.
"Information reaching me indicates that a verification team will be visiting the Niger Delta soon. Even at that, we must not be verified in our absence; we need to be notified and be part of the process, especially the leaders to confirm what was recorded at the various points where the arms were surrendered.
"The pattern the first phase was taken should be followed and not the second phase that was not properly done. We do not want this exercise to cause problem between our foot soldiers and us, the leaders".
Another ex-militant leader at the meeting, General Ike Emmanuel from Agbaru, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, observed that over 80 foot soldiers were under his command and that the slot allocated by the Federal Government to third phase was inadequate.
"How many will come to me and my boys? If I am given even ten slots what about the rest of the boys? I am appealing to the government to do the right thing once and for all so that peace will be everywhere. Some of our boys have died and some injured; what are we going to do about them? What am I going to tell relations of those who were in my camp, under me? Even for my treatment now, I don't have money to buy even urine bag and other medical services," Emmanuel said.
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