Ijaw Leaders Caution on Possible Resurgence of Militancy in Niger Delta

                                                Asari Dokubo

*Plans to have audience with Buhari on national issues

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Ijaw leaders, including traditional rulers of the ethnic nationality in Nigeria, have expressed worry over the possible resurgence of militant activities in the Niger-Delta. The militancy appeared to have disappeared following the Amnesty Programme introduced by the Yar'Adua administration in 2009.

The leaders hinged their fears on the apparent attempt by the present Federal Government to jettison the amnesty scheme initiated to encourage various groups hitherto engaged in violent agitation in the region to abandon that position.

This is as the Ijaw leaders resolved to constitute a high-powered delegation to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on national issues, including the seeming decision of the Federal Government to discontinue the amnesty programme, improving the lot of the Ijaw and the vexed issue of overall development of the oil-rich region.

Rising from a two-day retreat and stakeholders summit, which attracted leaders from 78 Ijaw clans and traditional institutions spread across the states of Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Rivers and Akwa Ibom, the leaders noted that 2016 budget provision for the Amnesty Programme and the Niger-Delta region in general was grossly inadequate and left so much to be desired.

The summit convened by the Ijaw National Congress (INC), was held in Warri, Delta State and was concluded with the issuance of a communique.