The Federal Government weekend restated its readiness to collaborate with ex-militants in the oil rich Niger Delta region to ensure protection of lives and properties in the region.
The Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for former Niger Delta militants, Brig-Gen. Paul Boro (rtd) said President Muhammadu Buhari desires peace in the region, hence, his administration was willing to engage relevant stakeholders to address all forms of illegality in the region.
Boro was speaking as a special guest in a forum organised by Riverine Security – a body which calls itself Coast-Guard of the Federation – a group of all ex-militants in the Niger Delta region, in Abuja.
Represented by Major Matti Abdul (rtd), Boro maintained that all hands must be on deck to ensure safety of water ways and communities in order to promote economic development in the region.
In his remarks, the Commandant General of the group, Oduku Bibi said all ex-agitators in the region had vowed to toe the path of peace and progress, because they believed in the ability of Buhari’s government to develop the region.
“We have come to say a big no to militancy, oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and all other familiar vices that have impeded the rapid development of the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large,” he said.
Commending the new coordinator, Bibi explained that their involvement in the peace, security and progress in the Niger Delta region became imperative in view of their adequate knowledge of the terrains in the region.
According to him “the people who can best protect the Niger Delta is Niger Deltans. Our men are conversant with the security hurdles; they know the terrains and we will assist security agencies in the discharge of their duties.”
He further disclosed that the group had had understanding with the Nigerian Navy for the protection of waterways, adding that they would extend it to the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to ensure that people in the region are well protected.
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