THE Federal Government amnesty deal yesterday received a boost as militants in Bayelsa State surrendered more than 300 rifles and two gunboats to the Presidential Amnesty Implementation Committee.
Also in Rivers State, youths and elders in Akuku- Toru Local Council of Rivers State surrendered a total of 47 arms, 371 ammunitions and over 14 dynamites.
There had been speculations that militants in Bayelsa State may not turn in their arms following the intrigue that played out at the formal meeting of the repentant militants with President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua.
The yesterday’s response by the militants in the state has allayed the fear that the youths may have shunned the amnesty programme.
The display ceremony is to come up soon at the Yenagoa Peace Park. Six of the repentant militants leaders at the exercise handed over their arms to the police within close doors at the Government House, Yenagoa. The arms and ammunition were raked from the 14 militant camps across the state.
The operation was supervised by security agencies in conjunction with the state Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee led by its Chairman, Chief James Jepthah.
The arms and ammunition turned in by the militant leaders include AK47 assault rifles, K2, Lar, MG and G3.
Those who surrendered their arms include; Gen Owei Africa, Commander Ogunbos, Commander Lagos, Commander Lamin, Osein Clever and Agulu Opuoru, the second in command to the late Kitikata.
The duo of Gen Africa and Commander Ogunbos reportedly submitted over two hundred arms.
It was learnt that the rehabilitation centre for the repentant militants has been moved to Otuoke, the country home of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan in Ogbia Local Council, instead of the Imiringi and Tungbo centres that were initially chosen.
Confirming the development, the Commissioner of Police, Elder Onuoha Udeka said more than 200 arms, including two gunboats have been submitted by six of the prominent militant leaders in the state.
“We are happy today, since the amnesty started people have been saying nothing has happened. So far, six of the militant leaders have submitted their arms,” he said.
The commissioner of police specifically commended the state government for prevailing on the militants to embrace the Federal Government amnesty offer.
It would be recalled that the repentant militants have expressed reservations over the use of men of the Joint Task Force at the arms collection centres. They preferred the use of policemen and the state peace and conflict resolution committee to oversee the programme.
In Rivers State, the arms surrendered include 14 Ak 47, six General Machine gun, one Ak49, 12 G3, one Smoke gun and one super machine gun.
While handing over the arms to the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe, the Secretary to the Council of Chiefs of Kula, Mr. Okoye Davies said the community is peace loving and was not known for militancy, hostage taking and violence acts.
But he pointed out that it was lack of government presence in the area that ” produces the highest volume of oil in the country” that spurred the youths of the community to indulge in carrying guns and ammunitions.
He said: “If you get to Kula, there is nothing to show that such area produces the highest volume of oil but rather, the oil is being taking away and the people of the community are ignored and neglected.
“Our people lack hospital, good road network, potable water, no electricity, no school, no health centre, so we are being eluded from most of the things we suppose to get and it is because of these lacks that the youths began to fight among themselves, that is why we have all these weapons”.
While describing the Federal Government amnesty as a welcome development, the monarch appealed to the government to demonstrate its sincerity and make its presence felt by the people of the community.
The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe commended the elders and youths of the community for taking such a historic step by surrendering their arms. He said the step would facilitate the peace process and development in the community and the Niger Delta region as a whole.
Alaibe maintained that non-violence means remains the best option to address the crisis situations in the region.