Amnesty: Kidnappers Of Lagos Pupils Surrender Arms In Ondo
Militants that kidnapped six senior secondary school students of Lagos Model College, Igbonla, Epe, in Lagos state on Tuesday surrendered their arms and ammunition to enjoy the amnesty granted them by the federal government.
The militants led by their leader, Ogailo Iborry Young, also known as O.C, willingly dropped their arms and ammunition at the Collection and Documentation of Arms Centre in their hometown, Ajapa Community in Ese-Odo local government area of the state.
They were also said to have been responsible for the Arepo pipeline vandalization and several attacks in the riverine areas of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states.
The event, witnessed by the Deputy Governor and Chairman of State Amnesty Committee, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, representatives of Delta State Government, Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base, Igbokoda, Navy Captain Usman Yahaya among others, was seen by the residents as a way of restoring peace in the riverine area.
Arms submitted include, browning wz machine gun, Daewoo K3, Colt automatic rifles, general purpose machine gun, Breda 30, Fiat Revelli Modelling, AK 47 rifles, rocket launcher, CETME Ameli, Heckler & Koch MG4, pump action and some automatic cartridges.
Also, military uniforms, police bullet proof vests, dynamites grenades, bombs and helmets were submitted.
In his address at the Collection and Documentation of Arms Centre, the leader of the militants, Iborry Young appreciated the state and the federal government for the fresh amnesty offer.
He traced the source of their arms to the Ijaw/Ilaje crisis of 1998-1999 and blamed it on joblessness, poverty and neglect by the government.
According to him, ” if we may be asked our reasons for embarking on this struggle, our simple reason to be hostile to the public and other concerned authorities is as a result of joblessness, suffering, poverty, oppression and neglect by the Government ”
He said that they decided to dump their oil bunkering business and hatched another game plan to attract the attention of the government.
His words: “As it got to this point, we did not find life very easy. Thus, we relocated to Ogun State where the government college, Ugbonla, Epe school boys were kidnapped whose release led to the present arrangement through the courageous efforts of the deputy governors of Ondo and Delta states.
” We did not kidnap these boys for mere ransom but to negotiate our freedom and full reintegration to civil life”.
Speaking at the centre, the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi said that the exercise was impressive as sophisticated ammunitions were surrendered.
He said, “Looking at the sophisticated guns and ammunitions surrendered, I’m happy that they ( militants) made a promise and fulfilled it.”
Ajayi assured of the readiness of the federal government to fulfil its own promise in providing employment and education programme among others for the repentant militants for them to be self reliant if they embrace peace.
He rejoiced with residents of Ajapa community for the peace that has been finally restored to the community after face off between them and the military.
The Deputy Governor noted that they needed to embrace peace to enable oil companies to commence operations in the area.
Ajayi allayed the fear of the companies, saying that no one will launch attack on the oil producing areas of the state after the submission of arms and ammunitions by the armed youths.
Also speaking, Navy Captain Yahaya said that the exercise in Ajapa community is more impressive in relation to the record of the exercise since its inception.
