Ex-militants Threaten Violence Over Unpaid Allowances

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TVC NEWS [ABUJA]- Angry ex-militants have taken to the streets to protest non-payment of their three years allowances and the seizure of their educational certificates by the Amnesty office in Abuja.

The ex-militants caution that they could return to the Creeks if the Amnesty office continues to treat their predicament with kid gloves.

TVC News Joke Adisa reports that the militants known then as the Bakassi Freedom Fighters, the ex-Niger Delta activists embraced the second phase of federal government’s amnesty offer in 2011.

After the initial training on non-violence, they say they were promised monthly allowances and trips abroad for acquisition of skills.

Though they were paid after the first month, the young men allege a short change following the seizure of the original copies of their credentials and their monthly stipends.

All the way from Rivers, Delta, Cross Rivers and Bayelsa states, those that could afford transport fares among the over two hundred affected
ex-militants embarked on a peaceful protest to the Amnesty office in Abuja but few meters to their destination, the police intercepted their movement, insisting the protesters didn’t get its permit.

Already, the ex-militants appeared to have lost confidence in the ability of their erstwhile leader, Frankly Duduku to represent their interest
before the Amnesty office authorities.

They say their names are being replaced with unknown faces thereby subjecting them to untold hardship

After about thirty minutes with the police authorities behind closed doors, Spokesman for the Amnesty office addressed the protesting group.

Dan Alabra promised the angry youths that all contending issues would be resolved next Wednesday.

The former Niger Delta activists had been in Abuja since Monday but various attempts to get audience with the authorities yielded no good
result until they resolved to a protest.

Now that they have secured a date with the man at the helm of affairs at the amnesty office, the ex-militants, who say they are breadwinners of their homes, are optimistic that this time, the interface will produce desired fruits.