Ex-militants fault third phase amnesty list

Posted by admin Headlines, Niger Delta Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

A group protesting its exclusion from the amnesty granted the ex-Niger Delta militants by the Federal Government has kicked against the proposed inclusion of less than 4,000 of its members in the proposed Third Phase Amnesty programme.

Our correspondent learnt on Monday that members of the group met at Ohoro Secondary School, Delta State to condemn the figure, describing it as “grossly inadequate”.

It was learnt that the meeting presided over by ex-‘General’ Ramsey Umukoro, was attended by thousands of the ex-militants protesting their exclusion.

While commending the Federal Government for recognising them, the ex-militants said there would be crisis if the government failed to include more of their members in the programme.

Umokoro, who confirmed the development to our correspondent in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Monday, said, “We heard that the Federal Government is going to take only a little above 3000 third phase agitators. It is grossly inadequate. Our members cut across the entire Niger Delta and that figure is not even enough for one state”.

He urged the government to consult the Joint Task Force codenamed Operation Pulo Shield before finalising its decision on the matter.

Umukoro said, “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 is recorded at the various points where the surrendering of arms is made.

Another ex-militant leader, ‘General’ Ike Emmanuel, asked the government to reconsider the figure.

He said he lost some of his boys in the accident that caused his disability during the September 6, 2011 East-West Road protest.

He said, “It was that same day some of my boys and I were involved in an accident. Some of my boys died and others sustained injuries. It affected my spinal cord and since then, I could not walk again.

“If I am given even 10 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?”

-Punchwp_posts