Nigeria Content Online

Security operatives at the governor’s office, Calabar had to
quickly intervene to prevent a catastrophe when ex-militants, fresh from a
two-week rehabilitation training at Obubra, Cross River State, stormed the
complex to protest the non-payment of their salaries for two months.

Members of the disbanded Bakassi Freedom Fighters, who dominated
the protest, said they were also at the state house to show their displeasure
at the failure of the Cross River State government to release the allowance of
N1 million previously approved for them. This amount was to be given only to
former militants who hail from the state.

On sighting the approach of these former warlords, a combined
team of policemen and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps [NSCDC]
officials quickly bolted the main entrance to the office, keeping away all
visitors. This caused a scene at the gate as guests who were already in were
barred from going out. The most senior police officer at the gate managed after
a long while to turn back the protesting men, who insisted on seeing the
governor, Liyel Imoke, to report their plight after graduating from the
training 12 days ago. The police officer took them away from the office to
listen to their grievances.

Midway into their discussions with the police, the special
adviser to the state government on security, Bassey Okim arrived and the leader
of the protesting team, Livinus Awudu told him of their complaints. Each former
militant receives N65,000 monthly.

They also said they needed to know when they will commence
vocational training as promised by the government, suggesting that it begins
without further delay.

Mr Awudu claimed that an army officer with the 13 Amphibious
Brigade, simply identified as Bello, has been sitting on the N1 million
approved for them by Mr Imoke. He claimed that each time they asked for the
money, Bello told them to be patient as payment was being processed.

“How long will it take Bello to pay us? We know ourselves. We
are 400 from Cross River State and he has our names and the necessary
documentation about us. What again does he want? We have been hanging in
Calabar since returning from the training at Obubra to receive this N1 million.
Let Imoke call him to order”, he said.

Mr Awudu said his group had exhausted the out-of-pocket expenses
they got at the rehabilitation camp and now faced hard times in Calabar. He
claimed that by last Sunday, all their money was finished and they had not
eaten since then.

Training for second batch

Another ex-militant, Kucky Bonus, told Mr. Okim that if nothing
positive was done about their plight, they will have no alternative than to
return to the creeks in Bakassi peninsula to fend for themselves as some
persons were out to feed fat on them.

“Look at me, I have a wife and three children. How do I take
care of them? Do they want me to go and steal? We have embraced this amnesty
but some persons are just using us to make money for themselves. President
Goodluck Jonathan is not aware of what we are going through at the rehabilitation
camp. He should call Timi Alaibe to order,” he said.

“We have no problem with Mr. Okim. He has been so caring so far.
The problem we have is with those

from Abuja who do not care about us. If the federal government
does not wade in, this amnesty will succeed only on paper. How come they are
owing us two months salary? Some persons somewhere are using us to make money
for themselves.”

Following the pestering, Mr. Okim pacified the men with N10,000,
pleading that they don’t take laws into their hands as he was going to Abuja
this week for a meeting with Mr. Alaibe where he would table their complaints.
He said government, having successfully completed the two-weeks rehabilitation
programme, cannot disappoint them now and assured them that the vocational
training will commence soon.

In the presence of the protesters, Mr. Okim called Bello on the phone to
tell him of the anger of the ex-militants; whereupon Bello ask them to meet him
in his office for discussion. Once through with Mr Okim, they left to meet
Bello as directed.

Meanwhile, the second batch of
ex-militants have commenced rehabilitation training in Obubra.

This batch is a mixture of male and female ex-militants. The training was
suspended for over a week to make for the construction of a concrete block
perimeter fence round the NYSC permanent orientation camp now being used to
rehabilitate the former creek boys ahead of skills acquisition training.