Militants give fresh conditions to accept Amnesty

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A group of Niger Delta militants operating in Rivers State has made a 10-point demand that must be met before they will accept the amnesty offered by Wike. The group, which identified itself as Egi Freedom Fighters, warned that it would reject the state amnesty programme, unless all the conditions were met.

However, the demand is coming several weeks after Wike declared amnesty for repentant militants, kidnappers and cultists in the state and later inaugurated the State Amnesty Programme Committee

The agitators also alleged that 
Total Exploration and Production Nigeria was behind the raid of Obiezemini in Egi community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA by soldiers. Calling for the release of their members in custody of security agencies, the militant group also demanded the provision of employment opportunities for the youths of the community and the local government area in general. Black said,“We demand the rebuilding of all houses damaged in Egi and release of all the people arrested during the raid of Egi community.

“Any skills acquisition and scholarship must come from Total Nigeria Plc. and not from the state government. Total Nigeria Plc. must create jobs for youths of host communities and maintain all existing structures in the communities.

“Beneficiaries of scholarships must be the less-privileged in the community. Total Nigeria must create special opportunities for the widows whose houses were affected by the raid.”

The Chairman of the State Amnesty Programme, Sir Kenneth Chinda, said the position of the militants was not a collective decision of the Egi people.