Security Threat In N-delta Over Non-payment Of Amnesty Allowances

Yenagoa—Ex-militant leaders in the Niger Delta region, yesterday, raised fresh alarm over alleged cases of disenchantment and threats to the existing peace accord by some aggrieved youths over the delay by the Federal Government to pay allowances and tuition fees to beneficiaries of the Amnesty deal within and outside the country.

The concerned ex-militant leaders, led by Pastor Rueben Wilson, said though series of complaints had been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari over the deplorable condition of amnesty beneficiaries in Europe, America and South Africa without response, reports available showed that the delay in payment was throwing up security issues and dangerous disenchantment among the ex-militant youths.

The ex-militant leaders, in a statement in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said that the alert sent to the President was to draw his attention to the issues in the region and the urgent need to address the issues within the Presidential Amnesty office.

The statement reads: “Worst of their situation is the unpredictability of when their nightmare will end while hunger and deprivation have put them in a very bad state of mind. Your Excellency, you will recall that this programme had within the last few years brought relative stability to our region and by extension, this country.

“This we owe to late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who in his wisdom proclaimed amnesty for ex-agitators and drew a plan of action towards ensuring lasting peace in the region through various training programmes.”