The Chairman of the Federal Government Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger Delta, Senator David Brigidi, has ruled out amnesty for militants who are involved in criminal activities.
He said identified criminals would not benefit from the proposed reprieve for repentant militants.
He made the revelation in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday.
The Brigidi-led committee, a peace initiative of President Umaru Yar�Adua, shortly after its inauguration, spearheaded the clamour for state pardon for the militants involved in the protracted bloody crisis in the region.
Various militant groups in the region had forwarded the list of their members in detention and those in exile, through the committee to the government for acquittal to enable them to participate in the peace process.
However, Brigidi said the government has said that there will be no unconditional freedom for the militants, adding that those who engaged in criminal acts would not be left off the hook.
He said the government insisted on prosecuting those with criminal antecedent.
Brigidi said the government consented to forgive only those arrested or declared wanted in connection with genuine and legitimate struggle in the region.
According to him, the government was scrutinising the lists submitted by the various groups with a view to identifying those who deserve a reprieve.
He said, �We (the committee) are the one discussing their release with the Federal Government, we are pressing for their freedom.
�The security agents have the lists of the members of each group in detention and those declared wanted by the government.
�The government is taking its time to sort out those involved in criminal cases.
�But the government has said that those on the lists would be classified, that only those picked up or declared wanted as a result of the struggle would be released. The background and reasons for their fate are being considered to enable the government to arrive at a rational judgment.
�The government said it will not release those with criminal antecedent. Their fate will be decided by the judicial process.�
Brigidi, however, said that three militants have regained their freedom under the arrangement, adding that six others, are being considered by the government.
He said the committee would intervene in the Port Harcourt crisis as soon as law and order was restored in the garden city.
He said, �We are likely to identify the leaders of the warring groups to talk to them.
�In the long run, it is still dialogue that we will employ to restore an enduring peace,� he added.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Owoye Azazi, said on Wednesday that soldiers deployed in Port Harcourt to restore peace and order, were on top of the situation in the area.
Azazi who was flanked by Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Paul Dike, spoke after briefing newsmen on activities lined up to mark the maiden edition of Armed Forces Day celebration.
He said that Nigerians should disabuse their minds on the thought that Nigerian Armed Forces personnel were inefficient and could not perform.
Aug302007