The ex-militants, who blocked the entrance to the Niger Delta Development Commission office, disrupted work for over four hours.
The protest caused gridlock along the
busy Mbiama-Yenagoa road, creating panic among traders who hurriedly
shut down their business premises.
The protesters threatened to return to
the creeks if the government failed to include them in the newly
approved Third Phase of the programme.
They threatened to attack oil
installations in the state and other parts of Niger Delta if the
government failed to yield to their demand.
Policemen and soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force codenamed Operation Pulo Shield as well as the State Security Service monitored the protest.
The security officials pleaded with the ex-militants to stop their protest but they refused.
The National Mobilisation Officer of
the group, ‘Gen’. Ebi John, told reporters that the group was
protesting against the failure of the government to include them in the
amnesty programme.
He said, “We want the NDDC, Local
Content Board and the multinational oil companies to prevail on the
Federal Government to consider the Third Phase ex-militants in the
amnesty programme or we may be compelled to return to the creeks.
“We will disrupt operations of the NDDC,
Nigerian Local Content Board, NNPC and the Presidential Amnesty Office
if the Federal Government fails to include us in the amnesty training
programme.”
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Fidelis Odunna, confirmed the protest.
The PPRO appealed to the ex-militants to
shun violence and engage the authorities in dialogue to guard against
breakdown of law and order.
Source: Punch
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