The Ondo State Government has reiterated its commitment to the welfare and reintegration of former militants, urging the federal government to include them in the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
This call was made during an interactive session held over the weekend between the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Niger Delta and Amnesty Affairs, Prince. Omojuwa Akinfemi Raymond, and a group of ex-militants in the riverine communities of the state.
During the engagement, the ex-militants leaders Gen .Ogailo Iborry and Gen Job Omotuwa of Ese-odo and Ilaje LGA respectively expressed concerns over what they described as neglect and poor welfare, stressing the urgent need for their inclusion in the PAP, which they believe would facilitate their full reintegration into society and reduce the temptation to return to criminal activities.
It will be recalled that in 2017, the Ondo State Government under the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, initiated a state-level amnesty to address rising insecurity, including kidnapping and illegal oil bunkering across the waterways of Ondo, Ogun, and Lagos States. The initiative was credited with restoring peace to the affected areas.
Responding to the concerns of the ex-militants, Mr. Omojuwa assured them of the current administration’s resolve under Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to pursue their integration into the federal amnesty framework. He noted that concrete steps are already being taken to draw the attention of relevant federal authorities to the matter.
“The government understands your plight and is working assiduously to ensure your inclusion in the PAP. However, we urge you to remain peaceful and law-abiding, as any return to social vices will not be tolerated under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration,” Omojuwa stated.
He encouraged the ex-militants to maintain faith in the process, emphasizing that sustained peace and cooperation are essential to achieving lasting development in the Niger Delta region.
