NIGER DELTA NEWS - Ex-militant protest in Abuja this morning
Former armed militants from the Niger Delta region this morning took over the Eagle Square, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory in continuation of their protest for inclusion in the Federal Government’s amnesty programme.
The aggrieved youths had staged similar protests in Warri and Benin City, Delta and Edo states respectively.
Information available to Nation Evening Express indicated that over 1,000 youths sneaked into Abuja in the early hours of today and swooped on the Eagle Square at about 5am.
A leader of the group, ‘General’ Para Ekiye, confirmed the report in a telephone chat with our reporter. He said the action became necessary following the refusal of the Kingsley Kuku-led Amnesty Office to include his members in the list of beneficiaries of the gesture.
He said: “We moved in around 5am and we took over the Eagle Square to continue our protest because we want our members to be included in the amnesty having submitted our arms and ammunition to the Federal Government in line with the amnesty offer.”
However, Ekiye later told our reporter at about 8:49am that security officials, including the Commissioner of Police in the FCT, the State Security Services (SSS) and leaders of the Lagos and Abuja chapters of the Ijaw Youth Council, have waded into the matter.
“They appealed to us that the government would listen to us and right now we have been taken to the Glory Land (Ijaw Guest House) and we are awaiting further deliberations on the matter.”
Mr. Daniel Alabrah, Head of media unit of the amnesty programme, confirmed the protest in a telephone interview shortly afterwards.
Alabrah, who refused to comment, stated that it was not unconnected with the clamour for inclusion in the 3rd phase of the amnesty programme.
He reiterated the stance of the Presidential Adviser to the President, Kingsley Kuku, on the issue, stressing that the fates of the agitators rest solely in the hands of President Jonathan
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