INC wants amnesty extension, absolves ex-militants from Lagos crime

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has denied media reports that jobless Ijaw/Ilaje ex-militants have invaded Lagos State and are responsible for the recent cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes.

The INC in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by its Lagos State Adviser and former President, Izon Community in Lagos, Mr. Regent Youmor, also called on the Federal Government to extend the envisaged termination period of amnesty programme beyond the next two years to enable thorough training of the over 30,000 ex militants captured for rehabilitation and empowerment.

According to him, the government came up with exit strategy, whereby 3, 232 trained ex-militants have been listed to exit this year, adding that “with monthly stipend of N65,000, government save over N2 billion”, having realised that the amnesty programme would not last forever.

He said, “Our demand from Mr. President is to extend the envisaged termination period of amnesty programme from the next two years to enable thorough training/counselling of the over 30,000 ex militants captured for rehabilitation and empowerment.

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“Attributing recent upsurge of criminal activities in Lagos to ex-militants of Ijaw extraction cannot be true as President Muhammadu Buhari, on assumption of office strengthened the amnesty program. As beneficiaries of the program, our ex-militants are fully engaged in specialised skills acquisition programs along with academic studies in various institutions of higher learning both locally and abroad.

The INC stated that since ex-militants under the amnesty programme were well documented and admitted into various educational institutions and vocational training centers in Nigeria and abroad, speculative reports would not be helpful”, Youmor stated.

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