Peace will soon return to riverine areas of Ogun, Lagos and Ondo states as the Federal Government has concluded arrangement to include ex-militants operating in the coast in the amnesty program.
The decision of the Federal government was sequel to the request of the ex-militants who abducted six students of the Model Secondary School, Igbonla, Epe Lagos state.
The kidnappers had made the request to be included in the amnesty program as one of the conditions for the release of the abducted students.
The Ondo State government that was instrumental to the release of the school boys and who struck the deal with the abductors had earlier set up a five man committee to liaise with the Presidential Amnesty Office and other relevant bodies to ensure the effective disarmament of the armed youths.
The committee has the state Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi as Chairman and Mr. Oye Fedrick Olajide as Secretary.
Other members of the committee are, Commissioner for Lands and Housing Donald Ojogo, Chairman of OSOPADEC Barrister Gbenga Edema and Lucky Ayedatiwa.
The committee said “At the inception of this administration, there were unresolved issues concerning the implementation of the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP) with specific reference to Ondo State
“The issues had to do with alleged politicization of the PAP which resulted in the exclusion if hitherto armed Youths and ex-militants
“Most of these uncaptured Youths had left for Lagos and Ogun states where most of them regrouped and formed themselves into armed cartels
“Initially, these elements had taken to oil pipeline vandalism. The concerted efforts if the Military which dislodged these groups unfortunately, opened another negative Vista for them
“They left Arepo enclave and gravitated to the riverine areas for a more dangerous dimension of criminality – armed robbery, kidnapping and piracy
“The highpoint of their nafarious activities was the kidnap of the six Igbonla Model School College Students, an episode that attracted international attention”.
But, the Deputy Governor has announced that the federal government will in November incorporate all ex-militants in the riverine area of the state, who are willing to surrender their arms for the Amnesty programme.
Ajayi, said the federal government through the state was willing to give amnesty to youths that are ready to lay down arms and embrace peace.
His words, “The president has just approved this, since we can achieve peace through negotiation, we want to engage these boys so that all of them can leave the bush and be part of the society.
“The ex-militants in the Niger Delta areas of the state and those that are willing to surrender their arms can be part of the society.
“They can be empowered through Agriculture at this time that the federal and state governments are committed to diversifying the economy.
It would be recalled that the ex-militants had appealed to the Ondo state government to speak on their behalf on their inclusion in the Amnesty programme.
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