The Federal Government on Sunday stated that it had not received any weapon from the wanted Niger Delta militant, John Togo, nor any member of his Niger Delta Liberation Force.
The Federal Government’s Joint Task Force had 12 days ago commenced a massive manhunt for Togo.
The Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, who spoke to journalists at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, however, noted that the Federal Government had put a halt to granting amnesty to militants from the oil rich region, including Togo’s NDLF.
Kuku spoke at a pre-departure news conference held for 24 ex-militantsleaving for Petroskills Petroleum Institute, Houston Texas, United States, for vocational training in oil drilling technology as part of the government’s Post Amnesty and Re-integration Programme.
The President’s aide stressed that only Jonathan has the power to grant a fresh amnesty to John Togo and also receive his arms.
Kuku, who recalled that the wanted militant had once accepted the government’s amnesty during the period slated for the programme in 2009, said he was surprised that the Niger Delta warlord reneged and went back to the trenches with his boys.
He said, “John Togo has not surrendered any weapon to the federal government; he and his team have declared that they are willing to re-surrender their arms. He was part of this programme. He has shown willingness to be part of the programme.
“We are yet to receive the communication. If John Togo arms are to be received only President Jonathan can receive it, or direct anybody to receive it.”
Kuku noted that John Togo might be considered but that declaring arms surrender was not enough to grant him amnesty.
Kuku said that the Federal Government had recalled six out of the 38 ex-militants earlier sent to Florida, US, to pursue studies in Marine courses.
He explained the six ex-agitators, who were sent to the US about eight weeks ago were withdrawn from their training institution and recalled home over allegations of misconduct.
He said security agents had seized their travelling passports. The passports, he added, had been sent to the US embassy with request that their visas be cancelled.
He said, “We have withdrawn them from the schools and they have been sent back to Nigeria. Today, we have submitted their passports to the US embassy for them to cancel their visas. After that, we will return their passports to them.”
Kuku further said the latest batch of 24 ex-militants going for training in Oil and Gas drilling in US brings to 645 the number of ex - militants flown abroad for different programmes.
The 22-member delegate, 22 men and two ladies, left MMIA aboard Emirates Airline.
Kuku urged the ex-militants to be good Nigerian ambassadors to the United States and to use the opportunity to better themselves and their environment.
“When they are certified, they will be in a manner that they will replace those expatriates that have overrun the economy. They say we are not equipped; they say we do not have the certification in the maritime and oil and gas sector; we have agreed. We are going to get these certifications but let our positions be ready,” said Kuku.
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FG: John Togo has not surrendered arms
FG: John Togo has not surrendered arms
NigerianEye
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Monday, May 23, 2011
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