Over the last year, militancy has returned to the Niger Delta with numerous groups taking up arms and attacking oil and gas installations. Operational in Rivers State, the EFF had been offered an amnesty by Governor Wike if it laid down its arms and embraced dialogue.
In response to the governor, the EFF has warned that it would reject the state amnesty programme unless all the conditions were met. In a statement issued in Port Harcourt by its spokesperson, Jennifer Black, the EFF requested the rebuilding of houses destroyed during a military raid of Egiland.
They alleged that Total Exploration and Production Nigeria was behind the raid of Obiezemini in Egi community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area by soldiers. Calling for the release of their members in custody of security agencies, the militant group also demanded the provision of employment opportunities for the youths of the community and the local government area in general.
Ms Black said: “We demand the rebuilding of all houses damaged in Egi and release of all the people arrested during the raid of Egi community. Any skills acquisition and scholarship must come from Total Nigeria and not from the state government and Total must create jobs for youths of host communities and maintain all existing structures in the communities.
“Beneficiaries of scholarships must be the less-privileged in the community. Total Nigeria must create special opportunities for the widows whose houses were affected by the raid.”
In response, the chairman of the Rivers State Amnesty Programme, Sir Kenneth Chinda, said the position of the militants was not a collective decision of the Egi people. It is not yet clear if the government will consider them or reject the demands.
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