Murtala Kamara Mohammed, AfricaNews reporter in Freetown, Sierra Leone
About 15, 000 militants have been sent to camps in the Niger-Delta area and Rivers State for rehabilitation programs, Nigeria's Defense Minister Godwin Abbe revealed. He told press men in Lagos that "They have been divided into batches... They will undergo training in skills acquisition that will make them useful to themselves."
The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger-Delta (MEND), the main militant group operating in Niger-Delta has been disturbing oil supplies in Africa’s most populous nation. Their actions have been condemned worldwide but they maintain they are fighting for a fair share of the country’s oil wealth.
Nigeria’s President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua declared an amnesty offer for those militants who laid down their arms. Many commanders accepted government deal and laid down their arms. They are currently undergoing training in different skills.
Professor Dora Akunyili, Nigeria’s Minister of Information said according to the Daily Champion newspaper that “We need to establish peace in that region. It is only when peace is established that meaningful dialogue can follow and sustainable development would naturally be in place."
Abbe said since the amnesty took effect the country has witnessed steady increase in oil production from 1.3 million bpd prior to the amnesty program to 1.8 million bpd.
About 15, 000 militants have been sent to camps in the Niger-Delta area and Rivers State for rehabilitation programs, Nigeria's Defense Minister Godwin Abbe revealed. He told press men in Lagos that "They have been divided into batches... They will undergo training in skills acquisition that will make them useful to themselves."
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