News
Update
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FG Vows To
Crush MEND..8,299
Militants Disarm, Surrender 2,760 Weapons
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By Rotimi Akinwumi, Otei Oham (Abuja) and
Harris-Okon Emmanuel (Warri) -Daily
Independent |
Abuja on Thursday
reiterated its resolve to deal with any
militant group, including the Movement
for the Emancipation of Niger Delta
(MEND), which attacks oil installations
and other public properties.
Amnesty Panel Co-ordinator,
Lucky Ararile, noted the new threat
issued by the MEND on Wednesday, but
reminded the group that the amnesty
declared by President Umaru Yar 'Adua
has elapsed; so the government would
react as appropriate if the threat is
carried out.
Ararile, who was
giving account of the work of the panel,
told journalists in Abuja that it would
be foolish for any group to dare the
federal might after its magnanimity, as
doing so is suicidal.
The MEND announced
that it would have no representation at
today 's
meeting the government plans to hold
with Niger Delta stakeholders.
Its Spokesman, Gbomo
Jomo, argued that the meeting is
"further
insult on the people of the Niger Delta''
because it is a
"dialogue"
with people Abuja can easily manage.
He reaffirmed the
stance of the MEND to renew attacks on
oil facilities, and warned oil companies
not to listen to government 's
assurances to protect such
installations.
" The
MEND considers this next phase of our
struggle as the most critical as we
intend to end 50 years of slavery of the
people of the Niger Delta by the
Nigerian Government, a few individuals
and the Western oil companies once and
for all.
" In
this next phase, we will burn down all
attacked installations and no longer
limit our attacks to the destruction of
pipelines,"
Jomo threatened.
Ararile, nonetheless,
repeated that the door is closed against
militants who refused to accept the
amnesty which expired on October 4,
stressing that any of them looking for
pardon now will be treated like a
criminal.
He said the panel was
overwhelmed by the huge number of those
who accepted the amnesty and surrendered
their arms,
"Which
means that the troubled Niger Delta is
safe now."
According to him, a
total 8,299 militants registered to
accept the amnesty, and a total 2,760
arms were collected from them, plus
287,445 ammunition, 18 gun boats, 763
explosives, 1,090 dynamite caps, and
3,155 magazines.
He said the list of
militants is provisional as more of them
in the camps of Tompolo, Dagogo, Busta
Ryhmes, Ateke Tom, who have all accepted
the amnesty on behalf of their groups,
are being expected to register
officially.
He put the number
expected at between 5,000 and 6,000.
Ararile said 162
militants have been registered in Akwa
Ibom State, and they surrendered 51
arms, 959 ammunition, five explosive
dynamites, 41 magazines, one bullet
proof jacket, and one dynamite cable.
In Bayelsa 4,869
militants laid down 951 arms, 130,877
ammunition, 18 gun boats, 23 explosive
dynamites, 31 dynamite caps, 1,585
magazines, 6 RPG charger, one AK 47
bayonet, one walkie-talkie, one A/Riot
grenade, two local made knives, and 153
cartridges.
Up to 160 militants
in Cross River surrendered 20 arms,
9,748 ammunition, 59 explosive
dynamites, 38 magazines, 4 radios, and
one charger.
In Delta, 1,061
militants gave up 449 arms, 52,958
ammunition, 521 explosive dynamites,
1,035 dynamite caps, 414 magazines, and
two walkie-talkies.
The number of
militants who registered in Edo was 250,
and they surrendered 82 arms, 772
ammunition, 53 explosive dynamites, 24
dynamite caps, and 29 magazines.
In Ondo, 750
dispossessed themselves of 198 arms and
9,725 ammunition.
A total 1,047
militants in Rivers gave up 1,009 arms,
82,406 ammunition, 102 explosive
dynamites, 1,048 magazines, two tear
gas, 12 cartridges, and nine RPG
chargers.
Ararile disclosed
that only N958 million of the panel 's
N10.14 billion budget given by the
National Assembly (NASS) has been
released.
He noted that an
additional N1.273 billion was reportedly
released on Wednesday, but the account
of the panel has not been credited.
He said the new
release would be used to pay the
allowances of repentant militants who
receive N65,000 per month.
But Ararile stressed
that the budget may not be sufficient
for 10,000 militants, whose number is
even expected to rise to about 15,000
when those in the camps of Tompolo,
Dagogo, Buster Rhyme, and Ateke Tom
register.
That notwithstanding,
rehabilitation centres have been
established in Rivers and Delta with a
combined capacity of 2,400 slots to
train repentant militants for one month
in their chosen vocation.
The training will be
rotated until all participate, and the
monthly allowance will be paid until the
training is completed.
Ararile said the
weapons collected will be kept at the
military arms dump in Enugu until the
government decides what to do with them.
He promised that they
will not get into the hands of
politicians for use during the 2011
election.
Also on Thursday, the
South South Caucus in the House of
Representatives urged the government to
design infrastructure development for
the Niger Delta, now that militants have
accepted the amnesty.
It sought a
Consultative Assembly comprising elder
statesmen, lawmakers, Governors, and
repentant militants as part of efforts
to concretise the gains on the ground.
The caucus Chairman,
Andrew Uchendu, who made the demand,
said members congratulated the militants
for heeding the call of patriotism by
laying down their arms.
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