The Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, last Saturday met with ex-militant leaders in the South-South states over rising wave of crime in the region.
Kuku was represented by the Head of Reintegration Department of Amnesty Committee, Mr Lawrence Pepple at the opening of the office of the Peace Advocacy Group’s Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (PCDI).
According to Kuku, the meeting of the Amnesty Committee and the ex-agitators is to brief them of plans by the committee to improve the welfare of ex-agitators.
He said that the recent security situation in the region, including the killing of 12 policemen in Bayelsa State was an indication of plans to destabilise the region.
Kuku, who is also Chairman of the Amnesty Implementation Committee said, “what happened in Bayelsa concerning 12 policemen was a tip of the iceberg.
“More will still happen. People are all out to create sense of insecurity, not only in the North, but in the Niger Delta.’’
Earlier, Pastor Reuben Wilson, the President of the newly formed Peace Advocacy Group, noted that the formation of the group was to serve as a catalyst for sustainable peace in the region.
Wilson, an ex-militant leader, said that some groups bent on fomenting trouble in Niger Delta had infiltrated the fold of ex-militants and foreign oil companies.
“For some time now, the existing sustainable peace in the region has led to many positive developments. “In a swoop, the oil wealth of the nation has risen and the benefits can be seen in the new development pattern under the administration of our son, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,” he said.
Wilson said, “peace is indeed golden. Some few but isolated events, triggered by some persons are trying to puncture our testimony of total peace and tranquility entered into through the Federal Government Amnesty Programme in the region.
“The anti-peace agents ambushed and killed some hapless policemen some days ago in the waterway of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa. “This, we have condemned in its entirety and enjoined the long arm of the law to go after these enemies of peace and development in the south-south,” he added.
“We will not allow them drag the region back to the forgotten dark days. “Our doors are widely open to assist the security agencies in bringing these evil agents to book to serve as deterrent to others plotting to engage in violent crime. “Violence does not pay in resolving personal issues,” he warned.
