SAN FRANCISCO, September 15, (THEWILL) – The Niger Delta Red Squad, the major militant group that has been responsible for the bombing of pipeline and other oil facilities around Imo State, have surrendered to the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, after embracing the state’s amnesty programme.
Also embracing the amnesty were over 900 former militants from other armed groups who also surrendered their weapons, including AK 47 riffles, rocket launchers, pump action guns of various sizes and large quantity of explosives.
They were pardoned by the Governor who presided over the disarmament under the watch of the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Brig.-Gen. KAY Isiyaku and other security chiefs.
Presenting the militants to the Governor at the Government House Chapel, the Chairman of the State Disarmament Committee, Mr. Kingsley Uju, said that it took the committee over four months to get the agitators to renounce militancy and embrace the programme.
“These people you see here gathered are from Oguta and Ohaji-Egbema council areas of the state,” he said.
“Your Excellency, on assumption of duty, the Committee met with the militants and in the course of our deliberations with them, we were able to find out that the oil companies that have been operating in their land since 1953 have done nothing to develop the communities.”
“It was on this note that we appealed to them to renounce militancy and embrace peace as the only way the development they are yearning for will come to them.”
“Today, these ones are yearning to be reintegrated back to the society. They have decided that they are tired of sleeping in the bush and carrying guns. This is why we are presenting these leagues of agitators today for state pardon, having lost a lot to militancy.”
“We are appealing that the state will therefore extend pardon to these ones and save them and their families by recommending to the Federal Government to grant them full amnesty.”
He revealed that the militants said they were forced to resort to armed struggle as a result of marginalisation by oil companies operating in the communities and their exclusion from the training opportunities and empowerment offered to other militants from other Niger Delta states by the Federal Government.
Responding, Okorocha granted them pardon and urged them to go back as responsible members of the society and contribute to the development of their state saying that all their grievances will be forwarded to the appropriate quarters for prompt attention.
“By the powers conferred on me as the governor of the state, I hereby grant you pardon,” he declared.
“You can now go and become good citizens and contribute to the development of your state and for those who are yet to hand over their weapons, you have up to Thursday next week to do so.”
Story by David Oputah.
