22 August 2009

Lagos — The Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta, Chief Timi Alaibe said the amnesty programme has recorded tremendous success within the past two days in Rivers State with a large cache of arms and ammunitions surrendered by militants.

Yesterday, a total of 38 weapons and assorted ammunitions were surrendered at Okrika axis, while today, the Kula Community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area voluntarily handed over d42 assorted community held weapons to the Federal Government's Amnesty Programme, including 371 live ammunitions, 14 dynamites and 74 magazines.

Receiving the weapons, the Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta, Chief Timi Alaibe said the success of the programme in Rivers State is worthy of commendation.

Chief Alaibe assured the people of the Niger Delta region that President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has demonstrated enough sincerity with the amnesty issue and enjoined other militants and communities habouring arms to surrender them, as the guns were not necessary anymore.

He explained that Mr President has shown commitment to develop the region, but that the efforts cannot be actualized without a conducive environment to drive the process.

The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, congratulated the youths, chiefs and the people of Kula Community, for taking a historic step in handing over the large number of arms and ammunitions by keying into the government amnesty programme. Chief Alaibe remarked that the people of the Niger Delta should utilize non-violence as a means of resolving differences, and cited countries like India under Mahatma Gandhi that used dialogue to achieve their objective of positive change in society.

He, therefore enjoined Niger Delta militants, and warring communities in the region, to avail themselves of the amnesty period of opportunity to surrender their arms to enable the youths benefit from federal government rehabilitation programme.

allafrica