The Federal Government has said it would employ the abductors of Lagos State Model School as part of the 10,000-strong army of youths to guard oil pipelines in the Niger Delta.
The government said the 10,000 youths would be drawn from the oil bearing communities.
The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh, made this known during a press conference in Abuja on Monday.
Abductors of the Lagos pupils had asked to be included in the Amnesty Programme as a condition for the release of the kids; and Boroh said they would form part of those that would be engaged for securing the nation’s pipeline in the Niger Delta.
He explained that the engagement of the youths of the region for pipeline surveillance and security was part of the Strategic Work Plan for the Niger Delta region, which was designed to engage youths from the oil bearing communities.
He said the nine Delta States had forwarded some of the names of the affected youths to the Amnesty Office and the Presidential Villa, and that the names would be collated for the next inter-ministerial meeting on the Niger Delta.
Boroh explained that a good number of the youths were taking to crime because of lack of employment opportunities which, he said, was a thing of concern to the government.
He said, “The Presidential Amnesty Programme is responsible for interacting with nine state governments, including Ondo State, and we aware of what is happening there.
“They (kidnappers) are also part of those that will benefit from the Federal Government inclusive principle in ensuring that the youths of the region are adequately accommodated in the areas of inclusiveness.”