Some ex-militants in Ondo State have called for inclusion in pipeline and waterway surveillance contracts awarded to former militants by the state government.
The ex-militants, formerly under the aegis of Sea Wolf Avengers, made the appeal in a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by their leader, Deji Ehinmowo.
Mr Ehinmowo expressed displeasure with the exclusion of the group in the surveillance contract.
According to him, in 2017 when Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was the Acting President, he came to Igbokoda where the youth told him that “our major problem is amnesty and surveillance.”
“We told the vice president that we need amnesty and surveillance contract and he directed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to immediately address the issue.
“After the governor met with the Federal Government, he advised all the militants to surrender their arms and a meeting was held at the International Culture and Event Centre (The Dome) in Akure on November 9, 2017, where amnesty programme for ex-militants was flagged-off.
“After the programme, we were given 21 days to surrender our arms with a promise that we would be paid stipends as well as expose us to training on skill acquisition programmes.
“At the event, there was also a promise that some of us would be sent abroad to acquire more skills”, he said.
Mr Ehinmowo expressed regret that while the former militants had fulfilled their own side of the amnesty deal, the government failed to fulfil its own side of the agreement.
SOURCE: PREMIUM TIMES
