ABUJA, Oct 1 — A key militant leader from Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta is in the capital Abuja to discuss an amnesty offer with President Umaru Yar’Adua, activists said today.
Ateke Tom, whose men have carried out numerous attacks on oil installations, is one of three factional leaders with links to the main militant group MEND who have yet to accept the amnesty offer.
Yar’Adua has given gunmen in the Niger Delta until Sunday to surrender their weapons in return for clemency, and has rejected requests by Tom to push back the deadline to allow time for peace talks.
The offer was one of the most serious attempts yet to stem unrest which has prevented Nigeria from pumping much above two thirds of its oil capacity, costing it billions of dollars a year in lost revenue.
A presidency spokesman confirmed the two men were meeting in private ahead of a news briefing, expected later today.
“He’s visiting the president to embrace the amnesty and tell him there are a few things that need to be done before he surrenders his arms,” said Jonjon Oyeinfe, former head of the Ijaw Youth Council ethnic rights group, who is close to Tom.
Oyeinfe, who was invited to the meeting but was unable to attend at the last minute, said Tom wants assurances of his personal safety should he decide to hand over his weapons.
The militant leader, who commands more than 2,000 fighters in the eastern Niger Delta, also wants Abuja to provide more oil revenues to local communities in the region.
It was unclear whether fellow militant hardliners Government Tompolo and Farah Dagogo were also considering taking the amnesty before Sunday’s deadline.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), responsible for attacks that have wreaked havoc on Africa’s biggest energy industry for the last three years, named a team of mediators on Tuesday to negotiate with the government on disarmament but said the amnesty process “lacked integrity.”
Activists say that even if top rebel commanders decide to surrender, there is little to prevent their “boys” from finding new leaders and resuming their attacks.
“Even if all the known militants give up, it won’t bring lasting peace unless the issues of developing the Niger Delta are addressed,” Oyeinfe said.
Presidential adviser Timi Alaibe told Reuters last month that 6,000 gunmen had signed up for the amnesty.
Under the programme, the government promises to provide ex-militants with a stipend, education and job training.
But hundreds have yet to receive any money and the government’s rehabilitation and reintegration programmes have yet to be fully launched. — Reuters
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