We Will Return Deadlier If Not Granted Amnesty-Kidnappers

By
Kazeem Tunde
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666

We Will Return Deadlier If Not Granted Amnesty-Kidnappers

The Abductors of students of Model Secondary School, Igbonla Epe, Lagos State, on Monday, threatened to return deadlier, if Federal Government does not include them among the beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme.
The kidnappers, who claimed to be militants under the auspices of Niger Delta Forest Army, vowed that the impending strike would be disastrous unless the Federal Government does the needful.
Speaking through its Public Relations Officer, General Bossman Konowei, who claimed to be indigenes of Eseodo Local Government area of Ondo, the kidnappers said that they embarked on Lagos/Ogun violent campaigns to attract the attention of the Federal Government .
Konowei said that they decided to release the student to the deputy governor of Ondo State, Ajayi because they want to enjoy the amnesty from the Federal Government,

He however vowed to face any force if their plea for amnesty is ignored by the Federal Government.

He said the present Amnesty Programme of the government was meant for only members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the exclusion of other militants who surrendered their arms to the government.
It would be recall that the Federal Government gave amnesty to former agitators in the Niger Delta region of the country in order to douse the militancy in the area.
However, Konowei said it was only the PDP supporters that were benefitting from the Amnesty Programme after they had agreed to lay down their arms.
It stated “we wish to bring to the notice of all Nigerians that the recent release of the six Igbonla College students who were in our custody was done for specific reasons. It is out of respect for our State, especially the Deputy Governor, Ajayi and his Delta State counterpart, Mr Kingsley Otuaro.
“For years, the then PDP Government’s Amnesty Programme has been handled as a baby for PDP boys to the exclusion of others, especially in Ondo State. None of our pleas was headed by the authorities. That is the reason we embarked on our Lagos/Ogun violent campaigns to attract attention.
“We had done this for years and we are satisfied that we have made our points known. The Igbonla College raid was an operation we carried out as a sign of our last violent campaigns if government takes the issue of Amnesty for us with all seriousness.
“Is it not laughable that after dropping our guns for the government, only few PDP youths benefitted to our exclusion? We hope the Federal Government will not allow our period of grace to get to another level of Ondo crisis.”
While denying the claims that some of them were killed in the effort to free the students, the militants said the Police were only trying to reap where it did not sow .
He said they were ready to drop their arms and embrace peace if only amnesty could be given to them as promised by the Deputy Governor before the release of the students.
Konowei added, “This is the last chance for permanent peace”.

 

 

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