We will look into Abia ex-militants’ plight – Reps committee

The Chairman, House Committee on Public Petition, Uzo Azubike has assured 5000 ex-militants from Abia state that his committee will investigate the reason for their exclusion from the amnesty programme granted to Niger Delta militants by the federal government.

He gave this assurance at a hearing on the petition signed by 5,000 repentant Abia youth, at the Michael Okpara auditorium, Umuahia.

The Deputy National President, Niger Delta Youth Movement, Comrade Felix Ogbonna, while addressing the committee said that the group was no longer involved or interested in militant activities and violent crimes of terrorizing innocent citizens through kidnapping.

However, he stated that the youth were entitled to amnesty programme, as their counterparts in the Niger Delta have all been rehabilitated and trained in various skills.

Governor Theodore Orji who spoke during the committee’s courtesy call to Government House explained how the activities of the ex-militants disrupted economic activities in the state.

He stated that when the amnesty was announced by the federal government, the former kidnappers left the camp, submitted their names to be part of the programme, but unfortunately, there has been no response so far from the federal government.

He urged the committee to look into the complaints and proffer immediate solution.

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