Ex-militants threaten showdown over perceived neglect

By: Embale Jonathan
From: Bomadi

A group of ex-militants known as Movement for the Betterment of Amnesty Phase II has threatened to launch a new wave of kidnapping at the nation’s capital over perceived discrimination against them.

The group had through its leader, General Asor Tambor who is also the co-ordinator of the amnesty phase II ex-freedom fighters of Bayelsa and Delta gave the warning at Bomadi while briefing newsmen at the end of an inaugural meeting to select a body to run the affairs of the group in Delta State.

Tambor while explaining the group’s frustration accused leaders from the region of playing politics and being unfair with the post amnesty execution. General Tambor added that federal government made the pronouncement of amnesty to all genuine freedom fighters in the region to embrace with an offer, stating that since they laid down their arms as demanded by the government they have not undergone a genuine process of documentation and payment.

Tambor disclosed that the group comprises of entirely repentant freedom fighters from both Bayelsa and Delta States who have come under the aegis of the Betterment of Amnesty Phase II (BAPII) to form a forum to engender comradeship to deal with the myriads of challenges confronting their documentation.

He revealed that though they could not beat the October 1st deadline pronounced by the federal government, they expect that after laying their arsenal of arms and ammunitions, the government should at least pay attention to them, adding that they have nothing to fall back on. “We are not a confrontational group, we will engage the government to a dialogue and discuss on a round table and I believe Mr. President will understand us. Like I said, we are ex-freedom fighters, this we have demonstrated by submitting our guns to the government. If amnesty was extended to all freedom fighters in the Niger Delta, the package should equally be inclusive and extend same to everyone without discrimination. Federal government should also keep its promise”, he stated.

Tambor while pointing out the intrigues played by those ex-freedom fighters already favoured by the amnesty package, explained that they curry favour from the federal government to frustrate their efforts to be documented and become part of the amnesty programme. “If we are deprived, having laid down our arms, we will tell the Nigeria society and the international community that we are really the fighting force of militancy in the Niger Delta region. We will go this time, neither to the Niger Delta terrain nor oil pipelines, but to the nation’s capital and ensure that those ambassadors whose countries are exploiting oil in the Niger Delta are taken hostage,” he warned.

General Tambor however appealed to his group to exercise patience and watch government’s position on the issue, even as he urged other freedom fighters who have not laid down their arms to do so and embrace dialogue.