The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Militants

  • Submit your arms within 21 days, Akeredolu tells militants

    Submit your arms within 21 days, Akeredolu tells militants

    The Ondo State government yesterday said it would grant  amnesty to Niger Delta militants in the state, if they surrender their arms.

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), who announced the amnesty in Akure, the state capital, said his administration created an amnesty office in Akure with other centres in five oil communities of Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas.

    The governor gave the militants 21 days to submit their arms at any of the amnesty offices in the state.

    He hailed the Federal Government’s support for the programme, saying his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, had been appointed chairman of the Committee on the Amnesty Programme.

    According to him, the committee will work with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, who also chairs the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme.

    Akeredolu urged traditional rulers to support the programme, saying the militants should embrace it in the interest of peace and development.

    The governor said the Amnesty Programme would not be run in palaces but by the committee members assigned by the state government.

    About 100 militants signified their intention to submit their arms at the event attended by the acting governor of Delta State and representative of the special adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs.

    Akeredolu said the state government would, from now, take punitive measures against militancy.

    He said: “Our country cannot continue to be in crisis. It is high time we embraced peace and shun crisis.”

    The governor assured the residents that his administration would provide jobs for militants, who willingly surrender their arms, adding that the government will train them to be relevant.

    The Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, who spoke on behalf of other rulers, advised the government to ensure that only genuine militants benefit.

    He stressed the need for the government to appoint only indigenes of oil producing areas as officials in the programme.

  • Militants accuse politicians of hijacking Amnesty programme in Ondo

    Militants accuse politicians of hijacking Amnesty programme in Ondo

    A militant group in Ondo State, United Sea Wolf Avenger, said politicians in the state had hijacked the Federal Government’s Amnesty programme in the state by allocating the slots to their children, friends and political allies.

    The group made the allegation in a statement in Lagos on Thursday signed by its leader, Gen. Deji Ehinmowo, Secretary, Gen. Akinfemi Raymond, and Adviser, Gen. Ogbaro Ariyo.

    The Ondo State Government, had on Oct. 23, announced that the Federal Government would on Nov. 9 incorporate ex-militants in the riverine area of the state who are willing to submit their arms for the programme.

    The militant group expressed regret that its members of over 400 from five camps in the state were neglected and not incorporated into the programme.

    “We humbly want to alert Nigerians and the Federal Government that politicians in Ondo State are about to compromise the standard and integrity that the Nigerian security personnel has built over the years by hijacking the second phase of the amnesty programme.

    “This is evidence in the outcome of the series of their meetings where Amnesty slots were given to their children, traditional rulers, friends in their political wards and units.

    “The 2009 Amnesty programme was not for political patronage. The then government didn’t consider Amnesty slot to any political, religious and traditional leader.

    “It is our strong belief that the purpose of the Amnesty programme is to mop up arms and achieve the desired peace in the oil rich region of Ondo State to attract investors to exploit the numerous natural resources that bound in the riverine community for the benefit of our people in the state and Nigeria at large.

    “We want to put it on record that fake people had been recruited as militants into the second phase of the Amnesty programme in Ondo State by politicians in the state for political patronage.

    “It is with strong belief that the present government in Ondo State is playing politics with the Amnesty programme without involving us in the process.

    “We are using this opportunity to inform President Muhammadu Buhari, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the security personnel that over 400 militants in our camp are ready to surrender arms in their possession if the government is ready to dialogue with us,’’ the group said.

    The group also condemned the location of the flag off of the programme to Akure, instead of Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government, which is the mandate area.

    “This negates the practice in the past and how it was done in other states of the Niger Delta region where flag off took place in the mandate areas,’’ it said.

    Read Also:  Amnesty: 400 militants to surrender arms in Ondo

  • Avengers: Gbaramatu Monarch warns militants to stay off his kingdom

    Avengers: Gbaramatu Monarch warns militants to stay off his kingdom

    …Say Kingdom not at war with Nigeria

     

    The king of Gbaramatu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Pere Williams Ogoba,Oboro II, has warned operatives of the dreaded Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and all those aiming to attack oil pipelines, to stay off his kingdom.

    The monarch, who spoke through the spokesman of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, also advised the
    federal government to rein the nation’s military in and call them off his area as his kingdom is not at war with the Nigerian state.

    The warning against the Avengers and all vandals of the nation’s critical facilities came on the heels of fresh apprehension in Gbaramatu over recent deployment of military hardware in the area, including gunboats and military aircrafts.

    Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West council area of Delta state has been the Avengers’ theatre of operations since it commenced its
    campaigns against the nation’s oil and gas industry in 2016, destroying several key assets, which severely affected the nation’s oil output.

    But in a statement obtained by The Nation in Warri yesterday, the monarch absolved his kingdom and his people from any connection with
    the dreaded militant group, adding that the group is not welcomed in any part of the kingdom.

    The statement said the monarch had given orders to all chairmen of communities in the kingdom to watch out for strangers or indigenes
    seen close to pipelines in the kingdom, hold such and hand over to security agents.

    “We want to also warn criminals that will want to use the present threat situation to cause confusion in the Gbaramatu kingdom. We
    announce to you that anybody that is caught getting close to pipelines with the purpose of vandalizing pipes will severely dealt with by the
    Gbaramatu kingdom.

    Read: Tension in Gbaramatu as military deploy aircrafts, gunboats

    “The monarch has directed that all chairmen in the kingdom should be vigilant, if they are any person that they don’t know in the kingdom
    or should they see any son of the kingdom that is about carrying out nefarious activities as it affects government facilities should be
    apprehended and handed over to security agents.

    “We don’t support the behaviour of the Avengers to wreck havoc on oil facilities, at the same time, we want to plead with the federal
    government and its agents, especially the military and the navy, please let’s give peace a chance.

    “We are not and we don’t want to be Avengers. We are not in support of the Avengers. All we say is that we want development. Things that the federal government has promised like the Ogoni cleanup, the EPZ project, the maritime university, the Omadino, Okerenkoko, Escravos
    roads and all that the federal government has said they are going to do, let them fast track them. If they do these things, nobody will
    have any opportunity to say want to do anything.

    “I think the inaction of some agencies of the government is the reason why people have opportunity to say they want to protest, but to the
    protesters we continue to plead with your conscience, sheathe the sword, that is not the right way to go. If you destroy all the
    facilities in the Niger Delta, we will suffer for it, we will be the losers, we don’t need to destroy government facilities for government
    to listen to us. Let’s sit down and talk, to jaw-jaw is better than to war-war. I repeat, we are not at war with the federal government

    “Criminals who want to use the present situation to cause an unpleasant situation in Gbaramatu kingdom should leave Gbaramatu
    kingdom alone. Should we get any information that anybody wants to get close to government facilities, our youths are on the lookout, we will deal with such people. The traditional ruler has given directives to the community chairman to ensure that this direct

     

     

  • FG to militants: why you must keep the peace

    FG to militants: why you must keep the peace

    The Federal Government (FG) is considering all options to sustain peace in the Niger Delta. It is appealing to militants to drop their plan to disrupt oil production, report AUGUSTINE EHIKIOYA, MIKE ODIEGWU, BOLAJI OGUNDELE and OSAGIE OTABOR.

    The 16-point demand

    • Relocation of International Oil Companies’ (IOCs’) administrative and operational headquarters to the Niger Delta region
    • Clean-up of Ogoni land and other communities affected by spill.
    • Review of the amnesty programme’s core mandate
    • Implementation of the Brass LNG and fertiliser plant project
    • Prompt takeoff of Maritime University
    • Industrialisation of the Niger Delta region
    • Inclusive participation in oil industry and ownership of oil blocs
    • Fast track of key critical infrastructural projects in the region, including the East-West road
    • Full implementation of the rail project running through Niger Delta states
    • Immediate demilitarisation of the Niger Delta
    • Contracts for the security surveillance and protection of oil and gas infrastructure by communities
    • Restructuring/funding of NDDC
    • Strengthening of the Niger Delta Ministry

    AGITATED Niger Delta militants got attention from various quarters yesterday. They were urged to shelve their planned return to the creeks to cripple operations in the oil and gas sector.

    They were told that the promised development of the region can only take please in an atmosphere of peace.

    An agreement between the Federal Government and leaders of the region under the auspices of the Pan Niger Delta Development Forum (PANDEF) returned peace to the restive oil bearing region in November, last year.

    The PANDEF gave the Federal Government a 16-point demand as condition for sustainable peace. Prior to the ceasefire, oil production was at its lowest of 800 barrels per day. It has risen to 2.2 million barrels per day, a development that has helped to boost national revenue toward getting the economy out of recession.

    It was believed that the perceived delay in the implementation of the 16-point agenda by the Federal Government forced the militants to serve a notice of fresh hostilities.

    But the Federal Government, the Presidential Amnesty Office and the PANDEF, chaired by a former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, moved yesterday to avert another round of crises.

    The move came on a day the Nigerian Navy warned that the creeks of Niger Delta will no longer be a safe haven for criminals.

     

    The government’s stand

    Appealing to the militants to give it more time to address the issues in the region, the Federal Government through its Niger Delta Affairs Minister Usani Uguru Usani, renewed President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to develop the region.

    He spoke with reporters after meeting with the President at the State House in Abuja.

    Responding to a question on the fresh threats by militants, the minister said: “Well, we haven’t discussed the Avengers per se. But it is of essence as the President has always shown indication that whatever we need to and can do to sustain peace in the region, we would continue to do.

    “And, of course, the benefit of that, you are aware that the Vice President (Prof Yemi Osinbajo) has been chairing the committee that handles the issues they are raising. While that goes on operationally under the vice president’s position in the committee, the President needs to be briefed on our efforts, though we know that the vice president is briefing him from time to time. But per se, the Niger Delta Avengers’ issues were not discussed.

    “On a general note, it is understood that we have to be engaged to be able to sustain the peace that prevailed for a while. We have been appealing to them to just be patient with us, because, most of the time, the issues that are brought up are those that tend to portray the quest for development of the region.

    “And that is all we have been telling to be patient with us; that these issues raised genuinely to the benefits of people of the region, are being attended to. For instance, you are aware that the vice president has directed the takeoff of the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State.

    “He also directed that a minimum of N5 billion be budgeted as a takeoff grant. So, it’s a matter of patience, knowing that some of these things have a procedure. It will not be because it did not happen the way they wanted, so it will not happen. Everything has a phase of planning and a phase of execution.”

    Usani expressed gladness that all the parties, including the government, militants, elders’ forum and other stakeholders have listened to one another in the past few months.

    “We wish that this continues. So, we advise all to remain calm. The things that we agitated for are coming little by little”, he said.

    On some claims by militants that the government has not kept its promises, the minister said: “The allegation that all the promises made have not been implemented is incorrect. I just talked about the university. The other issue is the communities being part of surveillance of the petroleum infrastructure in the region.

    “Of course, you know that by the modular refineries which they also talked about how they can be engaged, instead of what is called illegal refineries, they are also on.  The process of building a refinery or even getting the necessary procedures to establish such is not just a one-day business.

    “Advertisements have been made, people have indicated interests and of course, to make it sustainable, the Federal government is involving the states, but it is private sector-driven. This is to ensure that all concerned are on a common page and be sure that whenever it takes off, there will be no frustration or sabotage.

    “Then your second question of meeting with the Avengers… for us as a government, there hasn’t been any group from the region that intended to meet with any arm of government that has been rebuffed. So, if any people make such overtures, we are happy to receive them. We have been receiving different groups.  We are not limiting our dialogue or discussions to any particular group. So, anybody that says he is relevant in the process and comes forth, we will engage them.”

    Speaking on the East-West Road, Usani said: “That is the unfortunate circumstance of our situation.

    “Yes! It’s true that I met with the contractors and appealed to them to go back to site. We have also been very conscientious in releasing funds as they are cashed-backed to enable them to continue work. Nonetheless, we are thinking of alternatives of completing that projects amidst the many issues that tend to be the undercurrent that are drawing back the execution. And such issues are technical and we tackling them. In due course, you will know the outcomes.”

    Giving further insight into his mission at the Presidential Villa, the minister explained: “For a while, he (President) has not been around and there are things he needed to know from me. So, I had to brief him on issues pertaining to the ministry; the on-going projects and other anthropocentric issues that have to do with the general matters concerning the Niger Delta region, especially, as they throw up concerns bothering on who is right to speak for and who is not right to speak for; and then issues of the NDDC. All these dominated my discussion with the President today (yesterday).”

     

    Amnesty Office

    preaches peace

    The Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has urged members of the the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to maintain the existing peace in the region.

    Its Coordinator Gen. Paul Boroh said the planned resumption of hostilities would be devastating to the nation’s economy.

    Gen. Boroh, who doubles as Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters, said the appeal by Chief Clark, an Ijaw leader and PANDEF chieftain, to the NDA to maintain peace was in the interest of the region.

    According to him, the elder statesman’s appeal followed a crucial meeting with government delegation, reminding NDA members that violence sometimes may have cleared away obstructions quickly, but it never had proved to be creative.

    The PAP coordinator urged the avengers to be desirous of a peaceful society; adding that peace remained paramount for national development.

    He said: “If we desire a society without discrimination, then we must not discriminate against anyone in the process of building this society.

    “If we desire a society that is democratic, then democracy must become a means as well as an end. So let’s all give peace a chance to enable us enjoy democracy.”

    The presidential aide said that peace could only be achieved by understanding and not by force.

    He said: “Peace comes from being able to contribute the best we could to create a region that supports everyone. But it is also securing the space for others to contribute and that’s what President Buhari’s administration is doing.

    “The new vision for the Niger Delta will provide mass job opportunities for the youths and help fasten the development of the region.”

    He, however, advised the group to make a difference and forget about the planned hostilities that would devastate the nation’s economy.

    Appealing to the group to adopt dialogue instead of violence, Boroh lauded NDA for the ceasefire five months ago and stressed the need sustain it no matter the grievances.

    He urged the group not to blow up pipelines and oil installations in the region; adding that it would be an economic sabotage against the nation.

    The militant group, which halted attacks on oil installations, last year, following various appeals from the Niger Delta leaders, has renounced the ceasefire.

    In a statement by its self-styled Maj.-Gen. Murdoch Agbinibo spokesman, the group disowned the PANDEF, whose members have acted as intermediaries between it and the government.

     

    Concern over Boroh’s

    parley with with Clark

    Some youths, under the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, faulted the parley between the Federal Government and the PANDEF chair. They insist on the implementation of the 16-point agenda and not dialogue

    Faulting the outcome of the parley between Brig.-Gen. Boroh and Clark, the youth’s council described as unacceptable a statement issued by the amnesty office after the November 5 meeting suggesting that the government would immediately start fresh dialogue with the Niger Delta people.

    The Eric Omare-led IYC said in a statement that the region was no longer interested in “endless dialogue but could only accept implementation of promises made so far by the Federal Government.”

    According to Omare, the government needed no further dialogue to release funds for the take-off of the Maritime University and to clean-up Ogoni and other parts of the Niger Delta region massively polluted by oil exploration

    He said the government needed no consultations to fulfill its promise of relocating headquarters of multinational oil companies to the Niger Delta region and to complete the East-West road and other key developmental projects

    The IYC He asked the government to give a stake to Niger Delta people in the oil and gas industry and restructure Nigeria along the line of federalism to guarantee resource control

    The statement reads: “The demands of the Niger Delta people are well-documented and do not require further dialogue.

    “The IYC is of the strong view that the only issue that requires dialogue with government is that of restructuring of the country and the issue of restructuring is not peculiar to the Niger Delta region, but affects the whole of Nigeria

    “We vehemently oppose endless dialogue with Niger Delta people, which are tactics by the Federal Government to divert attention from the issues that needs to be addressed.

    “What the Niger Delta people want is the implementation of previous promises made by government and not further dialogue to divert attention and deceive Niger Deltans.

    “We strongly advise Niger Delta leaders not to be deceived by the antics of federal government to dialogue without implementation of promises. What we need now is action and not talks.”

     

    ‘Exclusion’ of Edo in

    PANDEF worrisome

    The Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) has accused the PANDEF of sidelining Edo State in its activities.  It alleged that the forum has been using strange names as representatives of the state.

    The group said it was mischievous of PANDEF leaders to deal with unknown personalities as representatives of the group from Edo State.

    BSM President Curtis Ugbo who stated this in a press statement said Edo, as an oil producing state, deserved a strong voice in PANDEF.

    Ugbo appealed to elders and leaders of the state to call for a meeting where representatives of the state could be selected into the body.

    The statement reads: “Edo State deserves to have a strong voice in the PANDEF and that is why our leaders need to meet and decide who our representatives are.

    “As it is today, PANDEF is the mouth of the people of the Niger Delta so it is not an organisation in which Edo State will have representatives who are not even known to the people.

    “The leadership of the group should consult with leaders across the Niger Delta states so that they will have their representatives in PANDEF.

    “As a group that is concerned about the progress of our state and the Niger Delta region, we are calling for a leadership meeting so that we can have true representatives in the PANDEF.”

     

  • Ex-militants thank Buhari for prompt payment of tuition fees

    Ex-militants thank Buhari for prompt payment of tuition fees

    Students sponsored by the Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the United States have commended the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for sustaining the Amnesty Programme and the peace in the Niger-Delta region.

    A statement by Jimmy Iwezu, leader of the Amnesty Students in the U.S., obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), also dissociated the group from a planned protest at Washington, D.C., on Saturday.

    “We wish to express our appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment and dedication to sustainable peace and development in the Niger-Delta through his support and continuation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    “We also wish to commend the able leadership of Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd) for the positive changes that he has brought to bear on the programme through prompt payment of our fees and allowances.

    “While it has not been all rosy, we note that despite the economic recession that Nigeria went through, it was still able to sponsor our education abroad and we are very grateful.”

    The statement drew the attention of the public to the activities of those it called “a few faceless fraudsters” in the U.S.

    It said the group was allegedly using the social media platform to spread “misleading and mischievous information about our welfare as government-sponsored students in different institutions of higher learning in the United States”.

    “We wish to disassociate ourselves from any attempt to tarnish the image of Nigeria in the U.S. through outright lies, falsehood and blackmail being peddled in the social media by a faceless group that has called on people to join them on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, for a public demonstration against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari at the White House in Washington DC, USA.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to put it on record that our allowances and tuition fees have been paid up to the month of September, 2017 and the Amnesty Office has promised to pay up to November, 2017 when the next payment is made.”

    The students appealed to those they termed “detractors and sponsored saboteurs” to desist from their evil activities of blackmail and distractions against the good job that the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta has done since 2015.

    “We also appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria for the sustainability of the programme, which has achieved its mandate of ensuring peace and stability in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria”.

    Boroh had told NAN that the Amnesty Programme was managing no fewer than 30,000 ex-agitators from the Niger-Delta region.

    The presidential aide said the programme, which started in 2009, had sponsored the beneficiaries in various skill acquisition, education and entrepreneurship trainings, among others.

    He added that well over 5,000 ex-agitators had benefitted within the past two years in critical areas of aviation, maritime, oil and gas and agriculture.

    According to him, the programme has helped greatly to stabilise the Niger Delta region, adding the Federal Government is consolidating on the achievements to buoy the economy.

    Boroh had also said the Buhari’s administration was committed to a peaceful and developed Niger-Delta region, adding that this commitment had encouraged investors’ movement into the region.

    “The impact of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the Niger-Delta region has been very satisfactory and encouraging because the ex-agitators have imbibed that culture of ensuring peace.

    “This is to allow for growth in the region and they are happy about it because a lot of valuable entrepreneurship programmes are ongoing in the entire Niger-Delta region.

    “Their (ex-agitators) morale is high and they are happy. Each time I go to discuss with the ex-agitators and the youth, they pledge their loyalty and support to the present administration.

    “This is so that the administration can continue the good things it is doing because of the commitment of Mr President in ensuring peace, stability and development in the region.”(NAN)

  • We arrest seven militants, recover charms in Edo raid, says Army

    We arrest seven militants, recover charms in Edo raid, says Army

    The Nigerian Army said it arrested seven suspected militants in its raid on some militants’ camps in Ijaw communities in Edo State.

    It denied reports that its personnel invaded Ajakurama community in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of the state on the invitation of an ex-militant, identified as one Ejuene Peres.

    A press statement issued by spokesman of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Captain Mohammed Maidawa, said the suspects were arrested during a joint operation with other security agencies in Ekehuan axis.

    Captain Maidawa explained that its personnel received credible intelligence which revealed a concentration of militant camps regrouping in the community “as a result of an onslaught by troops of the Operation Crocodile Smile”.

    According to the statement, “Our troops acting on credible intelligence which revealed  the concentration of militants in Ajakurama in wooden shelters brandishing weapons. The intelligence report also revealed that different militants camps were regrouping as a result of the onslaught by troops of Operation crocodile smile II thereby making Ajakurama a safe heaven for militants.

    “Following the discovery, a cordon and search was conducted . During the operation, a militants camp including two building belonging to one Mr Felix Idowu , militant leader was destroyed. The troops also cordoned and search a building and shrine belonging to one Mr Godwin Bamu who was alleged to be fortifying militants by charms.

    “Another militants camps was destroyed in Ubaogolo Creek off Benin River. During the operations several items were recovered at the Ubaogolo creek used as kidnappers den. The items include ammunitions, military uniforms and charms among other items.

    “In a joint military operations with other security agencies destroyed a militant camp at Ekenhuan, Benin City. The operation led to the arrest of 7 suspected militants . Preliminary investigation revealed that 3 of the suspects confessed to be ex militants of underdog militant Camp.”

  • Militants’ fresh threat

    •Time for positive dialogue on Niger Delta’s 16-point agenda

    A section of Niger Delta militants has resolved to attack oil facilities anytime from September 10. This announcement came from the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, CNDA. Its spokesman premised the decision on continued neglect of what he calls issues of Niger Delta: “The only language the Federal Government seems to understand is violence. September 10 is the day we will resume attacks (on oil installations). By September 10, which is on Sunday, over 5,000 members of the Niger Delta Coalition of Agitators will shut down no less than 20 platforms.”

    This is a regrettable development, especially for a country that has just come out of recession. Last year, militants prevented the country from pumping about 40 percent of its normal output, thus worsening the value of the naira for the better part of the year.

    The nation was heartened when the Federal Government promised to respond to the 16-point agenda submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari by leaders of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANEF), an umbrella body of leaders of ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta. So upbeat were leaders of PANEF that a spokesman for the forum announced during a visit by the vice president to Delta State thus: “There can be no stronger expression of Federal Government’s understanding of the situation in Niger Delta than the pronouncement by the vice president that the region should be treated as a special development zone.”

    We believe that periodic multiplication of militant groups is not conducive to meaningful negotiation between representatives of the Niger Delta and the Federal Government. Currently, there are five groups jostling for attention in the region: Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators (CNDA), Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders (NDRC), Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC), and Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA). Leaders in the region need to get more organised, for the region to get the attention it deserves, not only from the Federal Government but also from the rest of the country. Certainly, many citizens across the country empathise with the people of the Niger Delta, but no section can make the case of the Niger Delta better than the region itself.

    Without doubt, the people of Niger Delta have been patriotic for decades, by allowing the entire country to depend largely on exploitation of oil and gas from the bowels of the region at the expense of the region’s environment and the people’s health. But a sudden resolution by a fragment of PANEF to attack oil platforms is not the rational way to go at the incipient stage of a long-expected economic recovery. Even with pumping of 2.2 million barrels of oil per day, Nigeria will earn just about 50 percent of what it used to earn about two years ago. Throwing the country back into recession may be counterproductive for all parties. And the Federal Government itself needs to be more responsive to the grievances of the oil-producing region.

    While we urge the various groups in the Niger Delta to get more strategic and magnanimous about the region’s decades-long grievances, we call on the Federal Government in particular to honour its promises  to the region. Strengthening Niger Delta-related bureaucracies: Ministry of Niger Delta and Niger Delta Development Commission to get more sensitive to the needs of the people of the region is as urgent as it can ever get.

    Further, Niger Delta leaders entrusted with responsibility of negotiating with the Federal Government need to consult robustly with their constituents, to avoid giving the impression of serving two masters. In addition, the government ought to return (with the enthusiasm evident in January) to the 16-point agenda submitted to President Buhari before he took ill. Peace in the Niger Delta is so crucial to the nation’s economy that the Federal Government should resolve to walk its talk on the region’s demands.

  • Niger Delta militants withdraw quit notice to northerners, Yoruba

    Niger Delta militants withdraw quit notice to northerners, Yoruba

    The coalition of Niger Delta militants, yesterday, withdrew the October 1 quit notice they issued to northerners and Yoruba living in the region.

    The Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC), a new group that claimed to have the mandate to negotiate for the Niger Delta with the Federal Government and other interested stakeholders, said the issuers of the quit notice gave them the mandate to withdraw it.

    The coalition had disbanded the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) after passing a vote of no confidence in the group and constituted PNDPC as the new negotiator for the region.

    The militant groups appointed His Royal Majesty Pere Ayemi-Botu, paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom as the head of the PNDPC and named Chief Mike Loyibo as the coordinator/ convener of the group.

    The coalition comprises the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers; Niger Delta Joint Revolutionary Crusaders Council; Niger Delta Supreme Egbesu Fighters; Niger Delta Red Scorpion Fighters; Niger Delta Youth Mandate for Justice; Niger Delta People’s Liberation Force; Niger Delta Fighters for Resource Control; Niger Delta for Urhobo Resource Control; and Bakassi People’s Liberation Force.

    Loyibo, whom the coalition said was appointed following his track records of integrity and honesty, confirmed that the coalition mandated the PNPDC to announce the withdrawal of the quit notice.

    He said the youths were remorseful after he and members of the new group met with them and told them the implications of the quit notice to the peace and development of the region.

    He said: “People should disregard the quit notice from our youths. I have spoken to many of them and they mandated me to withdraw it on their behalf.

    “They have called off the quit notice and discharged it. Everybody in the region in the west, east and north should go about their normal business. I can guarantee them of their safety.

    “The entire Niger Delta people are not in agreement with the quit notice issue. The boys that issued it are very remorseful. So, they have asked me, because they mandated me to speak for them and the region, to discharge the quit notice.

    ” Loyibo noted that such unpatriotic remarks like issuance of quit notices had their origin from the cold war involving the country’s founding fathers during the precolonial era.

    “This quit notice and counter quit notice found their foundations from the precolonial days. The three leaders that negotiated the independence of Nigeria did not love themselves.

    “It was the crisis that extended to our era where everybody begins to struggle for their own. I don’t believe in regional or tribal considerations. As Ijaw people, those that had been good to us did not come from our region,” he said.

    He said the youths were only suspicious that the Federal Government was trying to weaken them through promises that they might not fulfill at last.

    Loyibo said the leaders also told the youths to also hold their governors, appointees and regional interventionist agencies responsible for lack of leadership and development.

    He blamed the Arewa youths for causing tension in the polity and frowned on the way and manner the government treated them.

    He noted that nobody should be treated as a second class citizen adding that all must be held as equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project.

    The Ijaw leader, however, said the youths in the region still believed in the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and their ability to fulfill the promises they made to the region.

    He said: “We are peaceloving people. Our diversity is our strength. Mr. President has brought a lot of integrity to governance and he came in with massive goodwill. So, I believe that this is the time he should be addressing the issue.

    “The late President Yar’Adua took the bull by the horn and declared amnesty and today amnesty is working. The place is being transformed in human capacity building.

    This is not the time for us to bring violence. When the militants and the agitators and the people of the Niger Delta named us to represent the Niger Delta as the new face, it did not come to us as a surprise because some of us have long history of integrity and openness.

    “We believe that Nigeria will continue to remain as one under a peaceful situation. So, I hereby, use this medium to formally discharge that quit notice. It is of no effects and there is no element of seriousness and the people that did it are very remorseful after we met with them and scolded them.”

  • Militants kill four soldiers, civilian in Bayelsa

    Militants kill four soldiers, civilian in Bayelsa

    Gunmen suspected to be militants have ambushed and killed four soldiers and a civilian along the waterways of Letugbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    Multiple security sources confirmed that a team of soldiers returning from Letugbene community on Monday became victims of an ambush laid by armed youths believed to be militants.

    It was gathered that the militants overpowered the soldiers, seized their arms, moved them to a location in the creeks and shot them dead.

    While one of the civilians, a boat driver was said to have escaped, the only survivor of the attack reportedly jumped into the water before he was shot by the hoodlums.

    An Ijaw youth leader and Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Central Zone, Mr. Tare Porri, who confirmed the development condemned the killing of the soldiers describing it as bizarre and unprovoked.

    Porri said they were killed in cold blood adding that his zonal leadership would meet on Thursday (today) to discuss the issue and other problems affecting the zone.

    He was, however, worried that the action of the suspected militants had pushed the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS) to begin a military operation in Letugbene and Ebelabiri.

    He said residents in the area accused the military of burning down houses and destroying properties in the operation launched to fish out the perpetrators.

    He said: “Two days ago, four military officers were killed in cold blood alongside other civilians. Military officers went to Letugbene community and on their way back, some persons accosted them and killed all of them.

    “Only one of them escaped. Military, yesterday morning retaliated, invaded the communities and burnt down houses. The operations are still ongoing and it is spreading to other communities like Ebelabiri.

    Also a security commander, who confirmed the murder of soldiers, lamented rising cases of killing of security agents and said measures must be adopted to stop the trend.

    “Security operatives are now endangered species. It is unacceptable the way security agents, are killed by people they dedicated their lives to protect. In Bayelsa, policemen, civil defenders and soldiers are constantly killed. It is barbaric”, the commander, who spoke in confidence said.

    A police source, who also spoke in confidence, said only soldiers were killed in the attack adding that the civilian attached to the soldiers escaped.

    Efforts to get responses from the Commander, JTF, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, yielded no results as he failed to reply to text messages sent to him on the matter.

  • We will eliminate kidnapping, militancy, says IGP

    We will eliminate kidnapping, militancy, says IGP

    • 100 policemen for training, 10 gunboats expected

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris Friday vowed that kidnapping and other armed crimes would be eliminated within a year with the necessary support and cooperation from Nigerians.

    He stated this during a working visit to The Nation’s corporate headquarters in Lagos to solicit support and enhance already existing relationship.

    Idris said that police officers have been strengthened and their morale boosted to combat crimes, just as he disclosed that plans were on for 100 marine policemen to be trained by the Nigerian Navy on counter kidnapping, militancy.

    He said: ‘‘we have strengthened our officers and boost their morale in combating crimes. Evans terrorized people in this country for many years but now we have the notorious kidnapper in our custody. The police deserve some credit from the public. Give me up to a year; I assure that Nigerians would see a different police working to ensure their safety in every nook and cranny of this country.

    ‘‘When this kidnapping crime was unbearable on Kaduna-Abuja highway, I went to the National Assembly and I told the lawmakers to give me a week. Within five days, our men arrested 58 suspects, who confessed to the crimes. More of the suspects were arrested and paraded on Thursday, bringing the total to 77. All we want from the public is support. The police require support and encouragement, because we are human beings too.’’

    The police chief appealed to Nigerians to own the force, adding that emphasis should be placed on causes of crime.

    He said: “We cannot blame the police for the causes of crime. As I speak to you now, I can confirm that we have over a thousand suspects in detention for kidnapping and ritual killings. Then, we should ask why we still have these crimes when we have dozens of suspects? I think we should focus on the causes of crimes and its symptoms, not the agents of reaction.

    “We have plans to develop the marine police. We are going to dominate the riverine areas. When I became the IGP, the first state I visited was Delta State, precisely Tompolo’s hometown. I discovered our presence on the creeks was minimal. I believe we can succeed in dominating the creeks if we have certain things put in place.

    “We need to train more marine police officers with modern techniques and gadgets. We need to buy more patrol gunboats and we are making progress in this respect. Already, we got offer to train about 100 policemen in marine security and a promise of 10 gunboats. By the time we get this done, we are going to start deployment from Lagos because of the rate of crime in riverine communities.

    “We have been making efforts to secure these riverine communities from militants. This progress is achieved due to the activities of the marine police. We are training the marine police to perform better. We are liaising with the Navy in the training of our marine officers. We are going to train more officers in continuous succession.”

    Asked why neither Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu nor the President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) Shettima Yerima were arrested for inflammatory comments, Idris said the National Security Council (NSC) weighed the aggregation of interests after weighing the benefits and disadvantages of certain action.

    He said: “We have the National Security Council in place chaired by the Acting President. We have been meeting and analyzing each of these threat messages from separatist groups. We have to analyse the pros and cons. As you are aware, the police is on top of the situation. You can see every action the police are taking accord with the aggregation of interest by the National Security Council.

    “As an organisation, what we take as paramount is the maintenance of law and order. There was a time we ordered the arrest of the leaders of groups making threat messages. Then, leaders of various ethnic nationalities came to the villa for a meeting with the Acting President.

    “The agreements reached at the meeting made the police to relax on the arrest order. We believe there are certain situations needed to be managed very carefully, so that you don’t bring up tension. We believe the security and safety of Nigerians is paramount. We are assuring Nigerians that there is no person or group of persons that can deny them their rights to free movement in any part of the country.

    In his remark, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Ade Odunewu commended the IGP and his entourage for the visit, noting that it showed the respect he has for the media.

    He said: “This is a friendly visit to our office. This shows the respect police accord the media, especially The Nation, which has reported the police’ commendable acts. We appreciate the visit and the kind words you have said about our organisation. In showing our support to the police to carry out their constitutional duties, we will partner you to enlighten the public on your activities. We have been doing this and we will continue to do it.”

    At the event were Chairman, Editorial Board, Mr. Sam Omatseye, General Manager, Development and Training, Mr. Soji Omotunde, Deputy Chairman, Editorial Board, Tunji Adegboyega, Editorial Board member, Olakunle Abimbola, Acting Editor, Saturday, Vincent Akanmode.

    On the  IGP’s team were Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations, Joshak Habila, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of zone II, Musa Ibrahim, Commissioners of Lagos (CPs) Fatai Oowseni, Ahmed Iliyasu, David Folawiyo, Shola David, Warren Bassey and Celestine Ogbuenyi, among others.