allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Dialogue, Not Daggers, As Panacea to Niger Delta...

Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange represents Bayelsa East in the upper chambers of the National Assembly. In this interview with a selected few media organisations in Abuja, he speaks on the deployment of military men in his constituency, his role in the mediation efforts and why dialogue and not violence should be engaged to resolve the problems, among others issues. Timothy Golu was there and he reports on the highlight of the media chat. Excerpts

Could you give a background to the Army occupation in the Niger Delta region?

As far as I can remember, at about May 1, 2006, just after the burial of the late King, the army came. From investigation, the army hierarchy had denied knowledge of sending the army in. Stories were that Dr Daukoru who wanted to be king by all means wanted the army to be there, another version was that they were sent in because of problem between Ogbolomabri and Basambri, the two neighbouring towns here. Another version is that they were sent in to protect oil installations. They have been there for 24 months and I have settled so many problems between the army and the youths, between the army and sometimes women. I used to call the commander and talk to him; he was quite friendly, understanding and seemed to be a core Christian, and I believe they must have changed him by now. There was no time within these 24 months that I, Senator Amange, called for a withdrawal of the military in Nembe. About two or three weeks ago, I had a call and was told that five boys were heavily brutalised by the army. I went there and saw these boys. What happened? They use hot water on them, pour petrol inside the hot water before whipping them so anywhere the whip touches would peel off, it is dehumanising, I don't even know their names, but that is not the issue, my campaign slogan is the defender of the oppressed. I cannot see this and keep quiet, so I came here and moved the motion for the withdrawal of the army from the place. The constitution is quite clear, Section 217 stipulates the work of the army and this is not one of the jobs of the army. Even if they are criminals, the job is for the police to do their job. There is no danger of taking over the nation (if you can go through section 217, a, b, c, d you would see what I am saying), it is wrong. That is why am still calling for their withdrawal and if possible, those who committed these heinous acts must be tried.

Have you conducted your own investigations to find out who actually ordered the army to be brought in?

I don't know which one is the truth, but that one that Daukoru brought them in may also be correct because he has been using the army to escort himself from Yenagoa to Nembe each time. It's the army gunboat that he uses.

But when we met on Thursday to face the panel, the army hierarchy said they were sent in there because Ogbolomabri and Basambri were at war with each other, that was long long ago, not when they came in, they were at peace. Even if they were sent in to separate the fight, it is expected that within three months they should have withdrawn. They should move MOPOL or conventional police to stay. How do you leave the army there to continue to maltreat people? The Joint Committee set up by the Senate was to look at this issue and get back to them.

From your assessment of their work so far, do you think they would be able to get to the root of the matter going by the presentation before them?

We have done our presentation here and I believe they would move to the communities to find out things for themselves. One thing I must mention is that during the presentation, the head of SSS confessed that these boys were not involved in any criminal act. Two boys confessed to the army that they wrongly pointed at these boys because they wanted these five boys to be punished for a problem they had previously. So I asked the SSS, what did you do after that to these five boys that were wrongly brutalised? Nothing, a gun was shot at that time, they were shooting at one of the boys and it went into a girl of eleven, they said they were taking care of that girl by way of hospital bill. It is dehumanising and so I had to take it up.

But it would go very far, I had to put it in the internet and blown it up to a stage that people would realise that it is wrong to do this. I am only appealing for assistance from the press. This is something you people can pick up. You can go on your own for private investigation to see whether I am telling lies or not.

As the Senator representing Bayelsa East, the reports from there bother on youth restiveness and militancy. How much progress have you made in terms of peace intervention to get the boys to put down their arms?

If you look at these senatorial districts, mine is the most peaceful, most of the oil flow stations have been shut but Ningi creek is one of the major oil producing creeks. I have never allowed anybody to shut down that place. It is only in 2005 or 2006 that some boys from Southern Ijaw came and raided brass terminal; that was the only incident.

Now with the assistance of the governor, the boys continue to patrol the place, no militancy has been recorded in that Brass district and no flow station has been shut down.

How were you able to achieve that?

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