Yenagoa – Retired Brig.-Gen Paul Boroh, Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, said the Federal Government would pay ex-militants in the Niger Delta their outstanding stipends this week.
The coordinator stated this in Yenagoa in statement he issued in the wake of protests by the ex-militants over unpaid outstanding stipends.
The Nigerian Observer reports that the ex-militants, in the early hours of Monday, blocked the East-West road/Mbiama axis linking Bayelsa and Rivers state over the non-payment of their three months stipends.
Boroh, however, maintained that his office was doing everything humanly possible to ensure that their stipends were paid as at when due.
“It will be counterproductive for ex-agitators to take to the streets at a time the federal government is making frantic efforts to address the challenges facing the programme.
“Anti-social actions, such as violet street protests, among others, could be hijacked by hoodlums to cause mayhem on innocent and law abiding citizens to discredit the programme and embarrass the government”, he said.
The amnesty coordinator also called on all ex-agitators in the Niger Delta to shun acts that are inimical to public peace.
Mr Ebi John, leader of the Third Phase, Niger-Delta Amnesty Programme, urged his colleagues to shun acts of violence adding that only peace can engender development.
“I am appealing to my colleagues to be patient as plans are in top gear to ensure that the stipends are paid this week”, John told newsmen in Yenagoa.
Former agitator under the First Phase of the programme and Executive Director of the Peace Advocates Outreach, Mr Kalaiti Jepthah, urged the ex-agitators to shun violence.
“My fellow ex-agitators, let us listen to the voice of wisdom in giving the Amnesty Office the benefit of doubt”, he stated.
