Abuja — The Federal Government yesterday denied a report in THISDAY that the Joint Task Force (JTF) was stopping persons displaced in the course of recent operations against militants, from returning to their villages.

It said rather, the task force was taking necessary measures to keep "criminal elements" out of the communities, to ensure that "only the genuine inhabitants return and that the people are protected from the activities of criminal opportunists who may want to take advantage of the situation".

A government official, who attended the stakeholders' meeting at the Atlantic Hall of the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had told THISDAY that JTF, the military body responsible for security in the oil-producing region, had stopped attempts by displaced persons to return to their villages.

The official said this was fuelling scepticism by some militant groups and opinion leaders in the region that government was not sincere in its offer of amnesty.

The source had said: "There was a lot of scepticism from the hundreds that turned out at the stakeholders meeting today (Tuesday) because of the security situation. A lot of them said if the men of the JTF would not allow the people of Oporoza, Okerenkoko and Abiteye who were displaced and had been in Warri to return to the community, they are suspicious that they would be killed as soon as they surrender."

But Chairman of the Presidential Panel on Disarmament, Major Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd), in a statement released to State House Correspondents said: "Contrary to the report, in compliance with the directive by President Yar'Adua that everything possible be done to facilitate the speedy rehabilitation of affected communities and their inhabitants, the JTF is taking steps to ensure that displaced persons can safely return home.

"The task force is, however, taking necessary measures to keep criminal elements out of the communities, ensure that only the genuine inhabitants return and that the people are protected from the activities of criminal opportunists who may want to take advantage of the situation."

Abbe, who is also the Minister of Interior, said his committee had earlier briefed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the progress of its work and its meeting with stakeholders in Port Harcourt Tuesday.

"The briefing was well received by Council members and the committee was urged to work diligently for the speedy and successful conclusion of its important assignment to facilitate the restoration of law and order through the granting of amnesty to militants who want to embrace the peace and security required for the development of the Niger Delta.

"While the Federal Government remains fully committed to establishing these prerequisite conditions of peace and stability essential for the implementation of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's developmental agenda for the Niger Delta, it will continue to do everything within its powers to mitigate the impact of unavoidable security measures on law abiding inhabitants of the region.

"In this regard, I will like to say that today's report by a national newspaper that the military Joint Task Force (JTF) is stopping persons, displaced in the course of recent operations against militants who killed and abducted its men, from returning to the their villages, is incorrect," he said.

Abbe noted that President Yar'Adua had shown commendable goodwill "with this amnesty offer and I appeal to all patriotic Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to support its implementation to create the requisite enabling environment for lasting peace and development in the Niger Delta".

Meanwhile, four days after President Yar'Adua gave the panel directives to meet with the detained leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), to officially offer him the amnesty, the committee was yet to do so.

Abbe, however, said the process was on. "I already have the mandate of the President for the amnesty panel to reach-out to Henry Okah and offer him the amnesty. We are on course with regard to the implementation of this directive," he said.