Abduction: Ex-Militant Leaders Back Buhari

Worried by the rampant cases of kidnapping, sea piracy and other crimes in Bayelsa State, ex-militant leaders, under the umbrella of the Third Phase Amnesty Programme have asked aggrieved agitators to shun criminalities in the interest of peace and development.
They also asked those behind heinous crimes in the state and the Niger Delta region, particularly ex-agitators, to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s reform programmes for the region.
The ex-militants, in a communique issued after their emergency meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, at the weekend, expressed confidence in the Muhammadu Buhari administration to resolve some knotty issues surrounding the amnesty programme.
The communique, made available to our correspondent after the meeting, was signed by the National Chairman, Third Phase, Ebi John; Vice-Chairman, Ogundere Olarotimi; and Secretary, Gomeromo Henry.
They commended the Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen Paul Boro (rtd), for sanitising the rot left behind by the former coordinator of the programme under the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
The ex-militants claimed that the former coordinator failed to carry some ex-agitators along, noting that the development resulted in some of them going back to the creeks.
They said, “We urge every ex-agitator to key into the development plan of the Federal Government towards the Niger Delta cause. They should shun any form of criminality and stop inciting others to unleash mayhem on the region.”