Repentant militants from Ilaje Local Government Area have protested over alleged non-payment of their monthly stipends under the Federal Government Amnesty Programme.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, the vice- president of Joghorro Camp, Shina Ogonnoh, said their protest at UBA, Broad Street in Okitipupa was as a result of non-payment.
“Since we dropped our arms, we have not been getting our money regularly, It is now two months, since we were last paid our stipends,” he said.
Ogonnoh said that out of the 450 Ilaje militants, 75 of had not been paid November and December allowances.
“Some people are being paid while others are not. Government said we should drop our arm to enable them to assist us so that peace will reign,” he said.
Praising the Amnesty Centre Coordinator, Lt.- Colonel Stanley Odienyenfe, Ogonnoh alleged that funds were being misappropriated by someone in the group for personal use.
“They are just frustrating the efforts of the Lieutenant Colonel; the funds released for our salaries are being used by someone else for their own personal use; the Federal Government should sort it out,” he said.
The Okitipupa DPO, CSP Adekimi Ojo, in his reaction urged the ex-militants to be patient and assured them that they would be paid.
“Your grievances have been made known to the people through the press and I have spoken to the Lieutenant Colonel who is in Enugu to sort things out; the money will be paid soon,” he said.
All efforts to speak to Odieyenfe proved abortive as he was said to be in Enugu since December 31 to resolve the issue of allocations which were supposed to be remitted from Enugu.
