A pre-deployment orientation programme for members of the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) for training of 3,642 ex-militants has commenced yesterday in Abuja.

President Goodluck Jonathan recently approved the implementation of the third phase of the amnesty programme of the Federal Government following renewed agitation by youths who claimed they were excluded from the previous programmes.

The two day pre-deployment orientation including members of the military, the Police and the State Security Service (SSS), will involve the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) for the former Niger Delta militants.

Speaking on the training Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi (Rtd), the Operations Coordinator of CGS International, who are facilitators of the programmes, pledged that the exercise will be conducted according to international standards.

Also speaking, the Presidential Amnesty Coordinator Air Vice Marshal James Gbum described the exercise as a mop up and verification for the third phase of the programme.