Ex-militants threaten to return to creeks over Amnesty Programme

 


Ex-militants from the coastal area of Ondo State on Monday threatened to return to the creeks over their alleged exclusion from the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

The aggrieved ex-militants who berated the federal government for not including them in the programme said the administration is not sensitive to their plights.

The aggrieved protesters from Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas, while addressing newsmen alleged that they were lured into submitting their arms but were later abandoned.

The spokesperson of the former militants, General Job Omotuwa and General Ogailo Ibori appealed to the government to absorb and enlist them into the Amnesty Programme.

“We the youths and ex-militants of the mandate areas in Ondo State which comprises Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas of Ondo State have been abandoned and neglected by the government at various levels in its Presidential Amnesty Programme till date having been so disarmed for reintegration.

“lt is painful to note that till date, no step or nothing has been made to absorb, ameliorate, mitigate and cushion our suffering and such calls for your honest, drastic and prompt attention being the Honourable Security Adviser to the President to assist and help us to be so absorbed in the Presidential Amnesty Programme as an integral part of the integration process sir.

“Having been disarmed and abandoned by the government to date, we can no longer feed ourselves, family(s), cater for loved ones, sponsor ourselves, children or dependents in achieving their various academy goal/pursuits. We have been left in despair, ill-fate and neglect despite relentless efforts made to reach out to the government.

“Finally, we strongly believe in your ability in resolving and eradicating our neglect in the current Presidential Amnesty Programme, otherwise, we will be left with no other option than to return to our former means of livelihood if the government continues in it neglect of us”