NO fewer than 7,000
militants from Akwa Ibom State are expected to lay down their arms in the state
today, even as fears mount about further vandalisation of oil pipelines in the
region.
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru, who sought to dissociate
ex-agitators from the recent oil pipeline vandalisation in the region,
explained that the youths have been responsible for the protection of the
pipelines so far; and that because they are willing to maintain peace in the
area, about 7,000 of them have agreed to submit their weapons to the government
today.
The
minister, who was spoke against the backdrop of the inter-agency meeting he had
earlier held with various agencies in the region yesterday, said the
focus of the meeting was to find a solution to the recent renewed
challenge of pipeline vandalisation.
“The
attention is not on the ex-agitators because they have been securing the
pipelines. Tomorrow (today), about 7,000 of them will be surrendering their
weapons in Akwa Ibom State”, he said, adding that although the effect of the
recent vandalisation would linger for a while, repairs will be fast.
- Guardian News
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