Ex-militants threaten hostilities over unpaid stipends

- The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) says ex-militants should be paid their arrears of almost five months to avoid trouble

- FG assured them through General Paul Boroh, the coordinator of the Niger Delta amnesty programme, that the payments will be made soon

Ex-militants say they will resort to hostilities if their stipends of five months are not paid

Ex-militants have threatened to get hostile should the federal government of Nigeria refuse to pay up the backlog of stipends owed them.

The Punch reports that the threat was issued by the Ijaw Youth Council in a state issued by the group on Wednesday, December 28.

The statement signed by IYC spokesman Eric Omare said that the group was displeased with the coordinator of the Niger Delta amnesty programme retired Gen. Paul Boroh which it claimed was not working well towards getting the money released.

“Niger Delta ex-militants under the amnesty programme are being owed five months arrears of stipends.

“We also call on the National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana Munguno, under whose office the amnesty programme is domiciled, to take steps to immediately effect the payments to avoid unnecessary hostility.”

Reacting to the statement, Boroh assured that the funds will be paid and he also apologised for the delay in the payment.

He said: “I am assuring all beneficiaries under the programme that arrangements are being made to fast-track the payment of their stipends as soon as the Amnesty Office receives its allocation.”

Meanwhile, police authorities in Abuja have foiled attempts by a notorious Niger Delta Militant group to blow up the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos state.

The group, reports say, operates from the creeks of Ikorodu and Arepo areas of Lagos and Ogun states.