Juliana Taiwo
27 June 2009
Abuja — The Presidential Committee on Amnesty and Disarmament for Niger Delta militants yesterday disclosed that the amnesty being offered to militant groups in the region would commence on August 6.
The committee further stated that within the 60-day grace period ending October 4, the Joint Task Force in the area is expected to observe cessation of military action unless in self defence.
The committee also said the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Henry Okah who is on trial in Jos, Plateau State will not be freed yet, until diplomatic formalities are concluded with the presidents of Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
Addressing the press, the chairman of the committee and Minister of Interior, Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd) said apart from the amnesty, there would be no other incentives for repentant militants.
Abbe, accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Paul Dike; Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro; Media Coordinator, Timiebi Kori-pamo; and Air Vice Marshall Lucky Ararile said police stations nearest the area of operations of the militants have been mandated to serve as designated centers for militants "who are ready to lay down their arms with immediate effect.
"Four collection points and two re-integration centres have been created in Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States while two collection points and one re-integration centre have also been created in Akwa-Ibom, Edo and Ondo States," Abbe said.
He said disarmed militants would be assisted with reintegration and that the amount involved in that process might be much more than the reported N50 billion as it was only a projection. He said his committee would not be handling this aspect of the amnesty.
On Okah, Abbe said: "He was arrested for gun running and was believed to have travelled through Equatorial Guinea, and alongside Edward Atatah, was extradited to Nigeria by Angolan authorities mid-February after their arrest and detention on September 3, 2007.
"He will not be freed until diplomatic formalities are concluded with the presidents of Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
"All the militants who are presently on trial will benefit from amnesty. But as for Okah, you'll recall that he was extradited from an African country and it behooves on Nigeria to continue with the diplomatic formalities by keeping them posted on the decision to grant all of them amnesty.
"Until this process is over, it will be difficult to determine the exact date but certainly he is benefiting from the amnesty and that applies to others you are aware of."
Expatiating on the minister's point, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Olusegun Adeniyi recalled that in Saudi Arabia, President Umaru Yar'Adua held a meeting with the president of Angola over the extradition of Henry Okah before the AU Summit in Addis Ababa.
"The president has also had a meeting on Okah with the president of Equatorial Guinea. So, this is an issue that involves two other countries.
"What the president will be doing in the next couple of days will be to send a special envoy to these presidents.
"This is a decision that has been taken by Nigeria, and out of courtesy, he needs to inform them that he wants to extend the amnesty to Henry Okah.
"It is only fair and normal that we do that after which Henry Okah will be offered the amnesty. If he accepts, he will be released."
Okah has been on trial since April 2008 for treason, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms. He was alleged to have bought over 6,000 assorted rifles and ammunitions from some military officers who are currently in detention at the Nigerian Army Ordinance Depot in Kaduna.
On the N50 billion said to have been designated for reintegration, Abbe said: "Well, what you saw in the publications are only projections. When an amnesty of this sort is granted, first it is not an overnight exercise.
"Secondly, it is not an exercise that is restricted to the federal government alone but will involve every Nigerian and it will take a long time.
"There are stages: the first has to do with the militants themselves unconditionally accepting the offer of amnesty.
"The next stage has to do with surrendering of their weapons to the nearest installations that have been provided and are being provided.
"The next stage will then be the rehabilitation following their being demobilized from the various units they hitherto belonged to.
"It is a long process and so you will discover that whoever mentioned N50 billion was only projecting. It will be more expensive than that. It is going to involve the local governments, the states, the federal government, the oil majors and as many interested parties as possible so as to bring about proper rehabilitation.
"So N50 billion is just an estimate and it is not the implementation committee that is spending that money. That is misinformation."
On the JTF's role during the 60-day amnesty period, Abbe said: "We have briefed the leadership of the JTF to understand what the amnesty stands for and the Task Force will respect all the conditions contained in the amnesty that has been proclaimed by Mr. President.
"We must all recognize as a matter of fact that the JTF was established for a purpose to ensure peace and security within the Niger Delta region.
"Once that objective is achieved, the JTF will fizzle out. However, it is important for you to continue to recognize that military formations will continue to exist in the Niger Delta."
On how the government will react if the militants continue to attack the oil installations, Dike said: "Again, when an amnesty is granted, I want to assume that opposing sides will understand what it stands for, cessation of hostilities.
"The JTF like I told you would obey all the conditions laid down for the amnesty but will only respond if attacked."
But as the presidential committee continues to unfold details of the amnesty for militant groups, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has declined to comment on the proclamation by the president.
In a mail sent by Gbomo Jomo, the group said it had been receiving calls and e-mails enquiring to know its response to the amnesty.
"Our response has been not to comment on it officially because from all indications, it is not directed at freedom fighters which MEND is a part of. "The proclamation of amnesty seems to be directed at criminals such as armed robbers, rapists, kidnappers seeking for ransom, etc.
"Since criminals exist all over Nigeria, it is not fair to direct such a magnanimous offer to their counterparts in the Niger Delta region alone."
MEND insisted that if the proclamation was directed at freedom fighters with a cause, it would have addressed the root issues such as the genuine unconditional release of Henry Okah and others.
Other issues that should have been addressed by the federal government, MEND said, include true federalism, federal character in political appointments, investigations of JTF extra-judicial killings, a troop withdrawal time table, displaced civilians, reconstruction of their sacked villages, and their rehabilitation.
"On behalf of our commanders Farah Dagogo and Boyloaf, they want to dissociate themselves from the purported proposal by one lawyer, Mr Ikenna Enekweizu parading himself as their representative on an amnesty offer that is not even directed at them," MEND stated.
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