A group of former Niger Delta militants, FFS has supported its peace commitment with the Federal Government with a denial of its membership of the notorious NDA group.
Some members of the Former Forest Soldiers have reaffirmed their support for the Federal Government's bid to stabilize the affairs of the turbulent Niger Delta region amidst the spate of militancy in the South-south region.
It would be recalled that oil earnings in the country have dipped massively with power supply nationwide affected adversely through the incessant blowing up of oil pipelines by the militant groups with the recalcitrant Niger Delta Avengers group leading the cause.
The Former Forest Soldiers who have been suspected to be a part of the NDA yesterday came out to deny allegations of membership of the faceless militia terrorizing the regions, according to the Vanguard.
The group while absolving itself of culpability in any act of bombing or kidnapping in Arepo area of Lagos, its leader, ‘General’ O. Ibori, said:
“We are ex-militants and not part of Avengers. We are shocked that the Federal Government has reneged on its part to fulfil its obligation from the several peaceful dialogues we had with it after we laid down our weapons for years now.
“We have surrendered but rather than fulfill its obligation by enlisting us in the amnesty programme, the Federal Government just began linking us to some recent kidnappings in the Arepo area of Lagos and the destructive activities of the Avengers that we know nothing about. All we want is to be part of the amnesty programme as the final step of the various dialogues.
“Security forces have burnt down three houses of our leader in Lagos in connection with a purported recent kidnapping in Arepo area and security men have been hunting us down. This is why we are crying out that we were not responsible for any act of kidnapping and we are not part of the Avengers, only that we are asking to be enlisted in the amnesty programme.
“The government has chosen force and fire instead of peace and freedom. It has reneged on its part after the various dialogue we had, but we have pledged to be law abiding and never return to arms any longer. We are now asking the Federal Government to stop harassing us and members of our families, including burning down our homes and stop treating us as if we are part the Avengers, because we have given peace a chance.”