Following claims that former Niger Delta militants were planning a protest over the non-payment of their monthly stipends, the Nigerian Army, Navy, Police and Department of State Services, DSS, have deployed their personnel to man strategic locations across Delta State.
The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh, retd, while reacting to the planned protest said there was no need, stressing that money has already been made available.
According to Boroh, “It is true that there are some debts, but the money has come. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, will start payment from today or tomorrow. I have long passed this information to the ex-militants that payment will start soon. I do not know why some of them are still insisting on the protest.”
In a bid to prevent any break down of law and order as the rumour continues to spread across the state, soldiers of the 3 Battalion, Effurun, David Ejoor Barracks, were seen patrolling major roads in Effurun and Warri with military trucks, while some were stationed at the DSC Roundabout, Vanguard reports.
Also commenting on the former militants planned protest, the Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta, Commodore Joseph Dzunve, said, “The reported planned protest is already in the media which seems to be ahead of others in sharing the alert. And you would have noticed that since Saturday, the Army, Police, Navy and other security agencies have mobilized their men to be on ground to check any unruly act.”
A source disclosed that the protest which was planned to hold last week Wednesday was aborted by security operatives.
“With the feelers we now have, anything can happen as they withdrew into their shell in the last few days. But I think it is not even a security concern to stop their protest. The fear is whether they will be lawful about it, added to concerns that hoodlums can take advantage of the situation,” he said.
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