Foremost militant, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo yesterday broke down in tears as he handed over his weapons, saying it was not his wish to surrender them.

He received a heroic welcome at the Osubi airstrip in Warri Delta State, on his return from Abuja where he signed the amnesty agreement after meeting with President Umaru Yar'Adua on Saturday.

Tompolo who arrived in a presidential jet was accompanied by the Minister of Defence Maj. Gen. Godwin Abbe(rtd), chairman, amnesty committee, commander Joint Task force Maj. Gen. Sarkin Yakin Bello, Brig. Gen. Wuyep Rimtip, and the special assistant to the President on Niger Delta, Timi Alaibe among others.

Tompolo who was obviously overwhelmed by the crowd that came to welcome him said the day was a memorable one for him. The entourage later departed to Oporoza, Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri south west local government area, where he officially surrendered his arms.

Tompolo who spoke in Ijaw while addressing the crowd, broke down in tears and said though he was handing over the arms it was against his wish. He said the Ijaw betrayed him in his trying period alleging a secret agenda to eliminate him using his brothers.

He advised his followers not take the laws into their hands but to wait and see what the government will do now that peace had returned. Thousands of people had gathered in Warri before travelling by boat to the Oporoza camp to watch the event.

Godspower Sylva, one of Mr Tompolo's fighters waiting in Warri, said the day marked "a turning point" in the militants' campaign but that the government should speed up development in the delta.

"The government has finally accepted that we are fighting for a just cause," he said. In his address, Gen. Abbe described the acceptance of amnesty by the militants as symbolic.

He said Tompolo's acceptance of the federal government amnesty and the handing over of arms were acts of patriotism by the militant warlord and his followers.

He called on Niger Delta indigenes to embrace peace so that solutions could be proffered to the reasons that led to the crises in the region.

He said: "Today marks the symbolic acceptance of amnesty granted by President Yar'Adua, it is a dream come true and it is an act of patriotism by Tompolo and others in the struggle, to have accepted to lay down their arms.

"Time has come for us to settle down in the Niger Delta to proffer solution to the reasons for this struggle; today will mark the beginning for the development of the Niger Delta. Oil will no longer be a source of pain to the people of the region rather a source of happiness."

He warned those who are yet to handover their arms to the amnesty committee to do so quickly, particularly those communities storing arms for communal crises, as time was no longer on their side.

Gen. Abbe gave assurance to all the militants who have submitted their arms along with Tompolo that government will do everything possible to rehabilitate them adding that the committee will have a discussion with their leader on the way forward.

"Those who have not submitted their arms should do that immediately as time is no longer their friend. Those communities still keeping arms for communal crises are advised to hand them over."