Amnesty boss meets 5 ex-militants leaders in Rivers

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Retired Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (retd) on Saturday held a crucial meeting with five prominent former militant leaders in the Niger Delta famously referred to as the Big Five.

Our reporter learnt that the former five commanders of the defunct Movememt for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) who met with Dikio in Port Harcourt include Amayanabo of Okochiri in Okirika, Rivers State; King Ateke Tom; Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo; Victor Ben Ebikabowei aka Boyloaf and High Chief Ajube Bibopiri popularly called Shoot-at-Sight.

It was learnt that though Tompolo was not present at the meeting, he sent a representative.

It was further gathered that the meeting, which was called at the instance of Dikio, held at the palace of Ateke Tom in Okochiri.

A source, who attended the parley, said it was designed to find lasting solutions to emerging threats to the fragile peace in the region.

The source, who spoke in confidence and described the meeting as strategic, said the amnesty boss intimated the former creek warlords about the reforms in the amnesty office and the new direction of the programme.

He said Dikio reeled out the reasons for the failures of the scheme in the past and solicited their cooperation to realise the main objectives of PAP.

One of the pioneers of PAP, Richard Akinika, confirmed the meeting and commended Dikio for consulting critical stakeholders describing it as a step in the right direction.  (Daily Trust)