Ex-militants protest over amnesty in Ondo

EX-MILITANT from Ilaje and Ese Odo local government area of Ondo state, who recently surrendered their arms following the state government promise to include them in the Federal government amnesty programme, on Friday, went berserk, protesting over the non-fulfilment of the terms of the amnesty promised by the state government and the Federal government.

The ex-agitators from the coastal area of the state who arrived at the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) office locate in Oba-Ile, Akure North local government area of the state, blocked the road leading to the office and disrupting official activities of the workers.

The militants numbering about 500, armed with placards and chanting anti-government song, also set up burn fire at the entrance of OSOPADEC as early as 7:30 am, preventing the workers of the commission from gaining access into their office.

The militants who threatened to return to the creek if the state government failed to honour its own part of the agreement saying they have fulfilled their own part

They described the new Amnesty program organized by the Ondo state government between November 9 and November 21 as a sham, deceit and not all inclusive as being portrayed by the state government.

They alleged that instead of using the Amnesty program to achieve peace in the riverine area, the Deputy Governor is using the exercise to build a structure for his Senatorial ambition.

It, however, took the effort of mobile policemen who fired several canisters of tear gas into the air to disperse the protesting ex- militants before normalcy was restored to the area.

Some innocent people were wounded in the process as the ex-militants scramble for safety during the protest which m lasted about three hours, accused the Ondo state government of conducting  ‘fake’ amnesty programme.

However,  the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Yemi Olowolabi, said those staging the protest are not ex-militants, but the group of jobless and disgruntled elements masquerading themselves as ex-militants.

According to him,  the number of ex-militants captured during the biometric exercise was 4000 but said the number of forms from Abuja was 1000.

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He said the leaders from various camp were invited where they harmonised the forms within themselves and distributed the forms.

He said the amnesty program of the state government had not only received commendation from other Niger Delta states but has been seen as a model.

He, however, said that very insignificant number of those protesting are not the member of the executive agitators, saying those protesting are not ex-militants.

The militant groups included the United Sea-wolf Avengers, The Awaja Camp, The Niger Delta Militant Vanguard, The Dragon and Lion Camp.

The groups were led to the OSOPADEC office by their leaders – General Deji Williams (United Sea-wolf Avengers), General Seamaco(Awaja Camp), General Ebiee(Niger Delta Militant Vanguard), General Mayowa (Dragon Camp) and General Bbanju (Lion Camp).

One of the militants who identified himself as Capt. Kingsley said the Ondo state Deputy Governor has politicized the exercise to the extent that more people from the non-riverine areas like Irele and Okitipupa are smuggled into the Amnesty program.

The ex-militants, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to send his men to the state in order to ensure that due process is followed and nepotism does not rule over sanity.