JTF rejects militant's surrender plan

Wanted militant leader and suspected sea pirate kingpin, ‘General’ John Togo, wishes to surrender, it was learnt yesterday. He gave a condition that the Joint Task Force (JTF) would give him a soft landing. 

The militant group, in a statement by its spokesperson ‘Captain’ Mark Anthony,  said the decision to surrender was taken at its Israel Camp last Saturday, adding that it had directed its ‘soldiers ‘ to return to their home towns and cities to await further directives.
But JTF Media Coordinator Lt.-Colonel Timothy Antigha told our correspondent that the task force was not aware of plans by the militant group to surrender.

Antigha, who spoke on the telephone, said neither Togo nor any criminal in the region was in a position to negotiate a peace deal with the Federal Government, having failed to take advantage of the window provided by the amnesty programme in 2009.
The JTF spokesperson said Togo sold the same dummy last year after his attack on the government troops led to a manhunt for him and his members.
“He (Togo) is not in position to negotiate any ceasefire with the JTF; all militant youths were given the opportunity but he and a few others refused to toe the path of peace. Instead, he chose to carry arms and continue to terrorise innocent people in the creeks.”
Besides, Antigha said last year, the scar-faced Togo called the then Commander of the task force, Major General Charles Omeregie with the story, adding that the JTF would not be moved by such claims again. 
The militant group’s spokesperson claimed that the decision to surrender was taken in the overall interest of the people in the area, stressing that NDLF is determined to ensure that residents lived their normal lives.
“This decision is not out of cowardice, but it was reached basically on humanitarian reasons as many Ijaw and Urhobo communities have had untold suffering with over hundreds of people lost their lives in Ayakoromor  December 1, 2010, in the hands of Nigerian soldiers who killed innocent community as reprisal for their lost soldiers in battle with NDLF soldiers.
“While we have abandoned our barracks in the creeks, the government should know that these boys are no longer in the NDLF control which if, urgent step is not taken to integrate them into the federal government amnesty programme, the resultant effect could be imagined than said. We therefore, appeal to the federal government to make a quick decision so as to withdraw the weapons from NDLF.
Don’t forget JTF did not destroy and capture any NDLF weapons. NDLF armoury is still intact and shall be surrendered unconditionally at federal government’s demand for permanent peace in the creeks,” he said.

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