The Honourary Special Adviser to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe, has warned the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) over reports that it has threatened to resume attacks on oil installations.
MEND had said arms being surrendered by militants in the region were owned by the government and did not form part of the guns held by its fighters.
The movement then vowed to resume attacks on oil installations on September 15 in order to prove that the guns being surrendered by militants were owned by the government.
The threat by MEND came on the day repentant militants in Bayelsa State returned over 95,970 rounds of ammunition and 520 rifles at a colourful ceremony held at the Isaac Boro Peace Park in Yenagoa.
Alaibe in a statement yesterday described the militant group’s decision as “unfortunate”, given concessions already granted by the government.
“This new resolve by the MEND leadership I dare say, is regrettable and inauspicious, given that under the watch of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, the Federal Government has made series of concessions to militants in the Niger Delta in the bid to restore peace, hope and development in the troubled region,” said the special adviser.
Alaibe explained that under the terms of the Amnesty deal offered by President Yar’Adua, several militants who were held by the Joint Task Force (JTF) and other security agencies are being set free.
He recalled that those who are currently facing prosecution in the law courts, especially the MEND leader, Henry Okah, regained freedom. The former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) stated that no known militant leader is on the wanted list of the JTF or any security agency in Nigeria because of the deal.
According to him, the Amnesty Implementation Committee headed by the Minister of Defence, General Godwin Abbe (rtd), had been working round the clock to set up logistics in readiness for the next phase of the amnesty process, which is the rehabilitation and reintegration of thousands of youths who turned their arms.
Alaibe urged MEND to have a “positive rethink of its position”.
Meanwhile, one of MEND’s Commanders, Nwaeze Adiele, who held forte at Tombia front as well as serviced weapons for militants, surrendered yesterday in Port Harcourt.
Adiele claimed that he became a militant after being recruited by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to help rig elections in 1999. He said he did not return all weapons given by politicians then because of their failure to pay all the money promised.
He submitted one rocket propelled grenade launcher, a general purpose machine gun, one machine gun, eight AK47, one G3, a berretta pistol, 14 dynamites, 156 AK47 bullets and some other types as well as 17 magazines.
Adiele stated that he came to the surrender point with some 20 boys and that others would follow suit if the government keeps to the programme
He also canvassed for the freedom of Soboma Jackrich aka Egberipapa currently detained in Kuje prison, Abuja. According to him, Egberipapa could be instrumental in the surrender of weapons by other militants.
The co-ordinator of the exercise in Rivers State, Mr. Bestman Nwoka, said that the response of the militants was a testimony of their belief in the programme and urged those still in the creeks to come out and enjoy their freedom.
He told THISDAY that he had 179 persons in their holding camp as the militants are allowed a choice of where to be, once they have been documented and given their identity cards.
On the demand for the release of Egberipapa, he said that since everybody under the amnesty was pardoned, his own case would not be different, adding that he would be released like others.
Aug242009