Ex-militants confront JTF over withdrawal

Posted by admin Armed Forces, Headlines, Niger Delta Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

Niger Delta ex-militants on Tuesday blocked the Bomadi Junction, a section of the East-West Road in Delta State to protest against President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to remove fuel subsidy.

The ex-militants allegedly armed were said to have engaged the Joint Task Force in a gun battle that lasted for over an hour.

The protesters numbering over 300 were also said to have blocked the Warri-Port Harcourt Road, causing traffic gridlock and frustrating travellers.

They were said to have stormed the area at about 6am, singing and lit a bonfire that forced motorists and pedestrans to run for their lives.

Although our correspondent learnt that they did not molest the travellers, their action was said to have created panic in the area.

It was learnt that following the shootout, motorists and travellers who were trapped in the traffic jam scampered to different directions.

Sources said about four ex-militants sustained bullet wounds.

While unconfirmed reports said the ex-militants were protesting against the subsidy removal, the JTF claimed they were members of the Third Phase Amnesty, a group protesting at their exclusion from the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.

The JTF’s Media Coordinator, Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha, who spoke to our correspondent in Yenagoa, denied there was a shootout between the ex-militants and the JTF.

He said, “There was a protest along the Warri-Port Harcourt Road, but we have been able to restore normalcy.”

-Punchwp_posts