The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro yesterday implored armed groups in the Niger Delta to avail themselves of the amnesty offered by President Umaru Yar’Adua on Thursday and be rehabilitated “as the new security scheme that would be in the region for six months will flush out all forms of criminality.”
His warning came on the day the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) dismissed the amnesty offer from the federal government, saying it is “unrealistic” and charged that the military was being put on a warpath in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
Okiro’s statement to the hoodlums was made when he visited Rivers State to take delivery of vehicles and commission special gunboats which were acquired for the purpose of making the creeks safe.
He admitted that the federal government was aware that the youths were misled into criminality and was offering them a chance to break free from such criminal lifestyle.
He commended Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi’s commitment to ridding the state of criminals and acknowledged the assistance he had extended to the police to ease their duties.
The police boss said the creation of more mobile units was to solve the problems associated with posting officers without paying their allowances and said he was in the State to open the newest squadron stationed at Ogoni.
Also speaking at the occasion, Amaechi admitted that there had been a tremendous improvement in the security situation in the state and donated 40 more patrol vans and two bullet proof buses to them.
In what many regard as a major shift in the attitude of the federal government towards the Niger Delta militants, President Umaru Yar’Adua had on Thursday said his government was working on terms for the granting of amnesty for militants who are prepared to lay down their arms but gave no further details.
But MEND in a statement yesterday said it would only agree to a peace process in which the United Nations and “reputable international mediators play an active role.”
It also repeated its call for the federal government to release one of the group’s leaders, Henry Okah, who is on trial for treason.
“MEND considers the amnesty for surrender of arms offer by Mr. Umaru Yar’Adua as unrealistic,” the group said in an email to the media.
“Such an offer by a government known for its insincerity must first be given to those who are being held captive by the Nigerian state for the rest of us to take seriously,” MEND said, referring to Okah.
“Ironically, it should be the people of the Niger Delta considering amnesty for the military and the past and present leadership of a corrupt Nigeria for the evil perpetrated in the region. As the government prepares its military for war against the peace loving people of the Niger Delta, we wish to warn that the freedom fighters are ready. Our differences have been put aside to face a common enemy,” MEND said.
Yar’Adua gave indication of the amnesty plan at a meeting of the National Executive of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday and also said the government was buying new equipment for its special military force in the Niger Delta to better fight militants in the region.
Speaking at the 47th NEC meeting of the PDP, Yar’Adua said: “We are working on the terms for the granting of amnesty to all those who are prepared to lay down their arms in the Niger Delta and this amnesty will include not only laying down their arms, but reintegrating and rehabilitating them into the Nigerian society.”
The federal government had previously vowed to treat militancy as criminality, but analysts say the President’s latest pronouncements may signal a shift in approach as the country continues to lose significant investments and incomes in the oil-producing region owing to the activities of militants.
“We are working on the holistic development and implementation of the Niger Delta Master Plan. We have created the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to champion the overall and holistic development oil-producing areas. This administration has been releasing full funds to the Niger Delta Development Commission,” Yar’Adua said. “
Yar’Adua also listed other measures the administration had taken to restore law and order to the region.
The President said: “We are funding a re-positioned Joint Task Force (JTF) to enforce law and order in the area and we have worked out the new rules of engagement for the JTF, giving it a period of six months. Next week, the National Security Council will meet to deliberate and finalise on the new rules of engagement.
“The government has released enough funds for the JTF to acquire the proper capacity to be able to enforce law and order in the Niger Delta,”
The past three years have seen an upsurge in militant activities in the region with frequent attacks on foreign oil companies and a wave of kidnappings of expatriate employees.
The unrest has drastically reduced Nigeria’s oil output, with daily production currently standing at around 1.78 million barrels, according to the International Energy Agency, compared to 2.6 million barrels in 2006.
Apr42009