Reward for crime as FG may employ kidnappers of model college students

The kidnappers involved in the abduction of six students of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, may be rewarded with employments by the Federal Government as part of plans to address restiveness in the Niger Delta.

They are being considered for enlistment as part of the 10,000-strong army of youths to be employed to guard oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region.

That much information was made known during a press conference in Abuja, Monday, by Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

According to Gen. Boro, the agreement was reached after the kidnappers asked to be included in the Amnesty Programme as a condition for the release of the six students who were held captive for 65 days.

He said the move which was designed to engage youths from the oil bearing communities was part of the Strategic Work Plan for the Niger Delta region, noting that nine Delta States had forwarded some names of affected youths to the Amnesty Office and the Presidential Villa, which will be collated at the next inter-ministerial meeting on the Niger Delta.

Gen. Boro said; “The Presidential Amnesty Programme is responsible for interacting with nine state governments, including Ondo State, and we are aware of what is happening there.

“They (kidnappers) are also part of those that will benefit from the Federal Government inclusive principle in ensuring that the youths of the region are adequately accommodated in the areas of inclusiveness,” he added.

On the 28 of July, the six kidnapped male students of Igbonla Government College, Epe, namely; Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf, finally secured their freedom after they were whisked away by unknown gunmen onMay 25, 2017.

It is still uncertain if the kidnappers have submitted themselves to government for the documentation of the deal especially against claims by the government that they are unaware that parents of the kidnapped students had paid ransom to free their kids.

Read also: IGBONLA BOYS: Kidnapped in Lagos, freed in Ondo, 64 days after!

The kidnappers, who claimed to be militants, under the auspices of Niger Delta Forest Army, had stated recently, that the abduction of the six students was their last campaign of peace, and threatened to carry out more deadly attacks if their demands were not met.

Public Relations Officer, of the group, Bossman Konowei, in a statement made available to newsmen in Ondo, said they decided to release the students because they wanted to enjoy the amnesty from the federal government.

According to him, only members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are benefiting from the present amnesty programme as other militants are excluded.

“We wish to bring to the notice of all Nigerians that the recent release of the six Igbonla College students who were in our custody was done for specific reasons”.

He further claimed, that “For years, the then PDP government’s Amnesty programme has been handled as a baby for PDP boys to the exclusion of others, especially in Ondo State.

“None of our pleas was heeded by the authorities. That is the reason we embarked on our Lagos/Ogun violent campaigns to attract attention.

“We had done this for years and we are satisfied that we have made our points known.

“The Igbonla College raid was an operation we carried out as a sign of our last violent campaigns if government takes the issue of amnesty for us with all seriousness.

“Is it not laughable that after dropping our guns for the government, only few PDP youths benefitted to our exclusion?

“We hope the federal government will not allow our period of grace to get to another level of Ondo crisis.

“This is the last chance for permanent peace. We shall return deadlier if nothing is done,” Konowei said.

They also denied claims by the police that some of them were killed in efforts to release the students, adding that the police were only trying to take credit for a job not done.

“We only laugh at them listening to their claims and attempt to take glory for something they knew nothing about.

“We released the students to Ondo State deputy governor because we knew he will pursue amnesty for us”, he said.

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now