MEND Loses Another Member To Presidential Amnesty

A militant leader, Pastor Reuben Wilson who claimed that he was incharge of Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) Forces in the Koluama axis of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has dumped the movement to answer Presidential Amnesty Committee’s clarion call to lay down arms.

Pastor Wilson said following the acceptance of amnesty by some of his colleagues such as Joshua Melver, Africa Ukparasia and Lagosman Jackson a few days ago, he had no option than to give Federal Government a benefit of doubt.

He said he joined the militant group in protest against the hardship his people of Koluama clan were undergoing inspite of the over 200 oil wells owned by Chevron/Texaco, Agip and Conoil.

According to him, the communities suffer lack of social amenities, such as medical and educational facilities, with high rate of unemployment.

The militant commander took reporters to Koluama I Primary School which according to him was built in 1911 with its leaking roofs, broken doors, windows without single furniture saying “my friends if you’re one of us in this community would you be happy with this kind of learning environment?

“We’re predominantly fishermen, but we can no longer fish nor make use of the water, because apart from hosting the offshore Agbami oil field reputed to be the biggest in West Africa, the clan also host a dug out well with greenish water”.

“This is why some of us who are genuinely concerned about the future of our communities took up arms in order to draw the attention of those in authority to our problems.

He called on the federal government to address the issue of ocean menace, saying that the community is at the verge of being wipe out by the ocean surge as what separate it from the raging Atlantic ocean is only a strip of sand beach.

Pastor Wilson pledged his total commitment to the peace initiatives of federal government saying that he has already forwarded his letter of acceptance to the JTF commander and other relevant agencies.