The Presidential Panel on Amnesty and Disarmament of militants in the Niger Delta today briefed the Federal Executive Council on the progress of its work and its meeting with Stakeholders in Port-Harcourt yesterday.
The briefing was well received by Council members and the committee was urged to work diligently for the speedy and successful conclusion of its important assignment to facilitate the restoration of law and order through the granting of amnesty to militants who want to embrace the peace and security required for the development of the Niger Delta.
While the Federal Government remains fully committed to establishing these prerequisite conditions of peace and stability essential for the implementation of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s developmental agenda for the Niger Delta, it will continue to do everything within its powers to mitigate the impact of unavoidable security measures on law abiding inhabitants of the region.
In this regard, I will like to say that today’s report by a national newspaper that the military Joint Task Force (JTF) is stopping persons, displaced in the course of recent operations against militants who killed and abducted its men, from returning to the their villages, is incorrect.
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Contrary to the report, in compliance with the directive by President Yar’Adua that everything possible be done to facilitate the speedy rehabilitation of affected communities and their inhabitants, the JTF is taking steps to ensure that displaced persons can safely return home.
The task force is, however, taking necessary measures to keep criminal elements out of the communities, ensure that only the genuine inhabitants return and that the people are protected from the activities of criminal opportunists who may want to take advantage of the situation.
President Yar’Adua has shown commendable goodwill with this amnesty offer and I appeal to all patriotic Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to support its implementation to create the requisite enabling environment for lasting peace and development in the Niger Delta.
I already have the mandate of the President for the amnesty panel to reach-out to Henry Okah and offer him the amnesty. We are on course with regard to the implementation of this directive.
Major Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd)
Chairman of the Presidential Panel on Disarmament and grant of amnesty to militants in the Niger Delta
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