Nigerian Business Blogs

Niger Delta Ex- Militants

Wednesday 8th July 2010,witnessed another militant attack. This time not on the creek nor on any of the Delta region. It was on the highway. Between Abaji and Gwagwalanda just about 60km.to Abuja from Lokoja area, the road was completely bloced by the 2nd batch of the Niger Delta ex-militants. Numbering over One thousand the weird looking militants brought total confusion on the peoples of the area. From dawn till 2p.m. they enjoyed absolute control of the highway. Military personnel were deployed and with tact were able to dislodged the ex-militant. There was no life lost. PRELUDE:Between 1967 abd 1970,the region suffered Civil war that took all the Federal might to curb. The war made the rather docile population to be militarily at alert. Overnight Arms and Amunitions littered the region and they later became a force to be recorn with. Under President Olusegen Obasanjo, many petrolium pipelines were vandalised and next to nothing was achieved. This might have prompted former President Musa Yaadua to give general amnesty to all Militants. THE PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY COMMITTTEE. It was set up to reconcile the militants and find a lasting solution to the regional problem. As a result 20192 repentant NigerDelta militants were enlisted. They laid down the arms and surrendered before the 4th October deadline. They were sent in batches to Obubra Camp in Cross River State. Those who surendered late formed the 2nd batch and were not included in the immediate rehabilitation and empowerment. The death of President Umar Yaadua might have contributed to the delay. Thinking that they might have been forgotten they took the law into their hands. The minister of state Niger Delta,affairs Samuel Ode stated that the prevailing political change-over couple with the official beurocracy accounted for the delay. The ex-militants are however demanding for the remover of thespecial Adviser to(Amnesty)the president Mr Timi Alabe immediate removal.