The Chairman House Committee on Public Petition, Uzo Azubike has assured 5000 ex-militants from Abia state that the committee will investigate the reason they were not included in the amnesty programme granted to Niger Delta militants by the federal government.Speaking at a hearing on the petition signed by 5,000 repentant Abia youths at the Micheal Okpara auditorium, Umuahia, on Wednesday Mr. Azubike said that the committee is in the state to look into the petition by the repentant Abia youths who were formerly involved in various crimes against the state and federal government on their exclusion from the amnesty programme.
The Deputy National President Niger Delta Youth Movement, Comrade Felix Ogbonna while addressing the committee said that the group was no longer involved or interested in militant activities and violent crimes of terrorizing innocent citizens through kidnappings.
However, he stated that the youths are entitled to an amnesty programme, as their counterparts in the Niger delta have all been rehabilitated and trained in various skills.
He further appealed to the committee to find a solution to the rate of unemployment across the country.
Committee Chairman, Azubike promised that an investigation will be set up to resolve the issues to a logical conclusion.
Governor Theodore Orji who spoke during the committee’s courtesy call to government house narrated how the activities of the ex-militants disrupted economic activities in the state.
The Governor disclosed that the state, in a bid to restore peace, decided to grant amnesty and surprisingly, the boys willingly dropped their arms and were being rehabilitated to be re-integrated into the society.
He lamented that when the amnesty was announced by the federal government the former kidnappers left the camp, submitted their names to be part of the programme but unfortunately they has been no response.
He urged the committee to look into the complaints and proffer solution
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