THE Federal Government Inter-Agency Coordination Committee on Amnesty has voiced out that the high numbers of militants that accepted the amnesty offer by the government were so many that the capacity of the committee was pushed to the limits.
Describing the presidential amnesty programme which ended last Sunday as a success and a victory for Nigerians, the committee said that the Niger Delta and Nigeria was now a safer place to stay and live.
The media coordinator of the committee, Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, while speaking on the success of the programme in Abuja, said the huge quantity, quality and sophistication of the arms recovered under the amnesty programme showed that “the Niger Delta and Nigeria is a safer place now.”
Dr. Koripamo-Agary said a yardstick in measuring the success was the acceptance of the amnesty by all major militant leaders and camps across the Niger Delta, adding that another yardstick was the withdrawal of charges, release and acceptance of the offer by incarcerated militants like Henry Okah, Egberi Papa, and others.
“The amnesty also provided an opportunity for various communities and ethnic groups in the region to submit arms in their possession. For some militants and their leaders, It was a photo finish to breast the amnesty tape.
“The number of militants that accepted the amnesty offer was so many that the capacity of the amnesty committee was pushed to its limits.” She said.
Dr. Agary emphasised that with the support of all and commitment of amnesty officials and Nigerians, the country was able to successfully implement the programme.