Hundreds of rampaging
ex-militants on Tuesday threw caution to the winds as they invaded the
Delta State Government House annex in Warri, forcing the state Deputy
Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, and his entourage to stay inside the
premises for six hours even when they were due to leave the premises.
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The ex-militants, who
defied the presence of soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and other
security agencies, had blocked the entrance of the Government House and
disallowed Utuama, who was due to leave the office from going out.
THEWILL learnt that the
Deputy Governor was forced back into his office for close to six hours
but was eventually allowed to leave after security agencies in their
large number came to disperse the protesters.
Local sources said the
deputy governor and his entourage were partially held hostage for the
number of hours the rampaging ex-militants held sway at the Government
House.
Although the media
assistant to the deputy Governor, Mr. Austin Avwode, couldn’t be reached
immediately for comment as his mobile line was unavailable, one of the
security details attached to the deputy governor said that Utuama was
highly embarrassed by the invasion and blockage.
The ex-militants who
were chanting war songs, had surged the Government House around 1pm,
protesting the delay in payment of their monthly N65,000 stipend even
when it was discovered that the Amnesty Office had, a few days ago, paid
them their November stipends.
An eyewitness said the
ex-militants who took laws into their hands had insisted that they will
not allow the deputy governor out of the premises until N1 million is
paid on each vehicle on the deputy governor’s convoy.
“According to the
ex-militants, they were not being treated well by the government now
that Christmas is around the corner and there is nothing to take care of
their families but government was sending cows, bags of rice and
millions of naira to politicians.”
“They are also
complaining and accusing government of insensitivity and accused Mr.
Kingsley Kuku who is in charge of the Amnesty programme of amassing
wealth to their detriment and called for his resignation with immediate
effect,” the witness said.
THEWILL recalls that the
ex-militants had last week barricaded the East/West road as well as the
Delta State Oil Commission, DESOPADEC, for several hours protesting the
non-payment of their monthly allowances.
When contacted via
telephone, the Head, Media and Publicity of Amnesty Office, Daniel
Alabrah, condemned in strong terms the action of the ex-militants,
saying it is very unfortunate that they are now abusing the privileges
given to them by the Federal Government.
He said the Amnesty
Office was not owing the ex-militants, disclosing that they were, a few
days ago, paid their November stipends and wonder why they have to take
the laws into their hands by blocking the Government House.
