Former militants in the Niger Delta region are threatening to resume attacks if they are not paid $6 million in compensation for last year’s killing of one of their leaders, General John Togo.
Last year, the Niger Delta Liberation Front laid down their weapons and joined thousands of other former militants in Nigeria’s federal amnesty program. In exchange for weapons and a promise of peace, former insurgents were promised counseling, job training, health care and sometimes access to credit.
Some say this program, which began in 2009, has brought calm to what was, for several years, a war zone. Others say the program is rife with corruption, and that militant activities and oil theft keep the region unstable.
The NDLF says they laid down their weapons before Togo was killed. The government says he was killed in a shootout.
Now, the group says if the government does not pay them more than $6 million in compensation, they will go back to fighting.
Lawyer Casely Omon-Ihabor represents the former militants. He says the group wants the money as compensation to families for damage to the environment and extra-judicial killings. “We have said that either they pay or face us again. One billion naira. For reparations and compensation for degradation of the environment and killings done in the Niger Delta region,” said Omon-Ihabor.
A spokesperson for the NDLF, Mark Anthony, said the government has until June 21 to respond before further action is taken. He said the demand was in response to a recent report that the family of Mohammed Yusuf, the slain leader of the Islamist sect known as Boko Haram, was paid $600,000.
“They started killing innocent persons. Throwing bombs military formations, on the U.N. building,” said Anthony. “They have killed a lot. It is still the same government begging to give money to compensate the life of Yusuf. We on the side of the Niger Delta, we saw it as a slap on us.”
When the payment was made to Yusuf’s family earlier this year, local news outlets said it was compensation for the death of Baba Fugu Mohammed, Yusuf’s estranged father-in-law, who was not accused of any crimes. About two weeks ago, Nigeria’s Vanguard newspaper reported the government now calls the payment “part of the reconciliation process.”
Reconciliation has been the government’s official policy in the Niger Delta since 2009. Former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria John Campbell says fighting the insurgency in the Niger Delta will never bring peace because the militants have too much “acquiescence if not support” from the local people.
“People in the Niger Delta believe that their region is entitled to a larger percentage of the wealth that is produced by the oil than they presently receive. Residents are angry and disaffected from the government,” said Campbell.
Campbell said Niger Delta oil funds most government activities and local stability is critical to the stability of the state. He says politics, not arms, is the only way to ensure a long-lasting solution.
Port Harcourt Cancer Center To Be Launched This Saturday
The Port Harcourt Cancer Center is to be launched on Saturday, June 16, 2011.
The Chairman, Board of Trustees, 0. C. J. Okocha (SAN) dropped the hint during a press briefing at Manuchim Chambers, Aba Road, Port Harcourt on Wednesday June 13, 2012.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said cancer is the greatest killer, it attacks every age, including children and we should do everything possible to discover it on time so that we could treat it. He said there are some particular Cancer for women, like the breast cancer and some are particularly for men, but early detection could do a great help.
O. C. J. 0kocha said the Port Harcourt Cancer Center is multifaceted and all inclusive with screening center and treatment; with study and research to prevent the killer disease.
Okocha said must of the Board members key into the Cancer Center because it has affected them in the past. He told journalist that the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and the Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Dickson are interested and that a similar project be sited in Bayelsa State.
He therefore appealed to corporate organizations, individuals and the highly placed in the society to key into the programme.
The launching would take place at the Civic Center, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, at 10.00am.
Also speaking, Rev. Dr. Kin Egwonwu appealed to journalists to partner to spread the danger of cancer. He said so many notable journalists have died of cancer due to lack of cancer treatment centers and delay in screening. Dr. Egwonwu told the media men that Nelson Mandela and others have survived cancer due to early detection.
He said everybody can support the center by donating N100 by texting to 44777 Code to any Network, while anticipating that the project will cost about N10Bn, but regretted that India has over 120 Cancer Centers, while Nigeria has none and this will be the third in Africa, as only Egypt and South Africa have Cancer Centers.
He warned that because of the environmental hazard according to UNEP report, people in this part of the region is on the high side of being affected by cancer.
Other members of the Board are HRM. Dr. Josephine Diete Spiff, Deputy Chairman, Dr. Theophilus Osanakpo and the Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, among others. ####
Pius Dukor
