Posted on 10/03/2009 4:14:36 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (AFP) – Three top Nigerian militant leaders in the volatile oil hub of the Niger Delta gave up their weapons along with thousands of fighters on Saturday under a government amnesty.
A senior commander of the main armed group MEND surrendered his weapons in the oil city of Port Harcourt, on the eve of the expiry date of the amnesty extended to rebels who have wrought havoc on Nigeria's oil industry in recent years.
"I Farah Dagogo, overall field commander for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) accepts together with field commanders in Rivers state, the presidential offer of amnesty to militants who lay down their weapons.
"We are surrendering all weapons under our direct control," Dagogo said in a statement.
Another militant leader Ateke Tom and around 5,000 militants disarmed at a beach ceremony in the same city.
A third top militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as "Tompolo", accepted the amnesty offer during a meeting with Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua late Satuday.
In accepting the amnesty, Tompolo promised Yar'Adua his support "to achieve the dreams of this country".
Tompolo was the third key militant leader linked to MEND who have taken up on the government offer for unconditional pardon in a bid to end the unrest in the oil producing region.
With militant attacks knocking Nigeria from its position as Africa's top oil exporter -- daily production has slid to 1.7 million barrels per day from 2.6 million in January 2006, Yar'Adua announced in June the amnesty offer.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Ateke Tom, one of Nigeria's key militant leaders in the volatile oil hub of the Niger Delta, speaks to his partisans in Port Harcourt. Tom and around 5,000 militants handed in their weapons at a ceremony in the oil city of Port Harcourt, on the eve of the expiry of an amnesty extended to rebels who have wrought havoc on Nigeria's oil industry in recent years. (AFP/Pius Utomi Ekpei)
I remember when Namibia offered amnesty for rebels and then slaughtered them after they disarmed.
The cash finally getting to the right people?
Tomopolo isn’t doing this for grins.
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