Ex-militants oppose alleged move to comb camps for weapons
From Willie Etim, Yenagoa
REPENTANT militant leaders in Bayelsa State have threatened to take up arms again if the alleged plan to comb their camps to ascertain whether they surrendered all their weapons was carried out.
They argued that the move could ignite fresh crisis in the state and make nonsense of the entire amnesty programme of the Federal Government.
In a swift reaction, the state government has denied the allegations.
Led by General Monday, the disarmed warlords alleged preferential treatment for some of their colleagues in camps across the state by the Timipre Sylva administration.
According to Monday, the discriminatory policy was causing division among the leadership of the former militant leaders in the state. He, therefore, called for the intervention of the Federal Government to put the post-amnesty programme on course.
In an interview in Yenagoa yesterday, Monday flanked by his colleagues, claimed that some selected former militant leaders were being accommodated in the Government House.
He added that while the government made adequate provision for some former militant leaders in term of logistics, others were abandoned to their fate.
Monday said: "All the 43 camps in the state are formidable. All of us served in the creeks and accepted to embrace the amnesty of the Federal Government to fast-track development in the region as well as proffering lasting solutions to the crisis in the region.
"It is sad that while some militant leaders are being treated as kings, others are being abandoned."
He accused the government-backed leaders as orchestrating the move to screen the camps not only in the state but also in the entire region, warning that if the government embraced the idea, the result might not be palatable.
Monday commended President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua for initiating the amnesty deal, saying that he would be remembered for the return of lasting peace in the region.
According to him, the payment of monthly stipends as promised by the President had been paid promptly while other post-amnesty programmes were on course.
His claims were supported by "Generals" like Highest in Apoi-Creek Camp, Patrick (Freedom Fighter), Godgift (Kurubou), Aduma (Kirifon), Daniel (Soku Camp), Obekuma (Juju Point), Frank (Lion Camp) and Agadagba. They threatened to resume hostility if the injustice was not addressed by the government.
Denying all the allegations through the Director-General of the Due Process Bureau, Mr. Von Kemedi Demiari, the state government said it was not aware of any plan to "screen" the camps for weapons.
He also said there was no disparity in the attention being given to any particular former militant.
"All of them are given equal treatment," he said.
