Ghana Pundit: Nigeria: Yar'Adua Gets List of Militants' Sponsors

By Juliana Taiwo

Abuja - More gripping details of the information recovered from the dreaded Camp 5 belonging to wanted Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, emerged last night.

The details were revealed by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike, Service Chiefs and Comman-ders of the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta who met with President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

It emerged that Tompolo was running Camp 5 like a military garrison with serious recruitment and documentation.

Records of all members with their photographs and personal information, their emoluments and details of operations are kept while there are also details of banks who launder millions of dollars for him, the politicians he held meetings with and the dates he held such meetings among other things.

Tompolo's residence at Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom, Delta State, was also called "Aso Rock".

Military sources said the President was briefed on the incriminating information uncovered by JTF at Camp 5 and the names of people involved in oil bunkering and arms acquisition.

THISDAY learnt that President Yar'Adua will brief the leadership of the National Assembly and key Niger Delta governors on Monday on the names of government officials, prominent politicians, security agents as well as top officials within the oil companies on the payroll of the militants.

The sources said the President had been handed several documents and it is certain that heads would roll within the oil companies and government in the coming weeks.

The documents contained details of the "protection money" being collected by Tompolo from some Federal Government agencies and state governments in Niger Delta as well as records of all the camps in the region and who manned each, their capacity, etc.

Tompolo was described as the "al Capone" of them all. "It is a pure organised crime," said a top military official who added that, "Nigerians will be shocked when the details of what we have found out about this Niger Delta situation is released.

"Many of these big-time criminals are already under surveillance because we will not allow them to run out of the country. Hiding under the guise of militancy and political agitation, they devised a clever criminal scheme but their cups are full now."

Earlier yesterday, President Yar'Adua received a report from the Presidential Panel on Amnesty and Disarmament of Militants in the Niger Delta.

He said the ongoing military action against militants in the region was targeted at armed criminal bent on destabilising the region.

The President also said government would come out in two weeks time with a comprehensive policy on which modalities and conditions under which the amnesty to the Niger Delta militants will be implemented.

In a related development at the winging ceremony of 10 successful transport and helicopter pilots from Flight Safety Institute and Bristow Academy, United States of America, the government particularly commended the Airforce for its role, which helped in curtailing the crisis by softening the ground in "preparedness and readiness for battle".

Defence Minister Shettima Mustapha represented by the Minister of State for Defence Demola Seriki, gave the commendation on behalf of the Federal Government.

Receiving the report from the panel on amnesty and disarmament of militants, President Yar'Adua said: "Developments in the nation's Niger Delta region over the past few weeks have necessitated the Federal Government's decisive action against armed criminal elements who have hijacked genuine agitations in the region and constituted themselves into very real threats to Nigeria's national security and economic survival".

While recognizing that the provision of the necessary infrastructure for the socio-economic development of the area is dependent on an enduring atmosphere of peace and security, Yar'Adua said: "Our agenda for resolving the lingering development challenges in the Niger Delta is still very much on course".

He reiterated government's "commitment to granting amnesty to all militants who are ready to lay down their arms and return to being law-abiding citizens of our fatherland".

He therefore urged "all militants in the region to take advantage of this offer and lay down their arms and cease all acts of disobedience to law and order. All law abiding citizens should go about their lawful duties without let or hindrance.

"I must express my debt of gratitude to the Chairman and members of the Presidential Panel on Amnesty and Disarmament of Militants in the Niger Delta for the painstaking and expeditious manner in which they have carried out their assignment," he said.

Yar'Adua said: "Fellow Nigerians, the accomplishment of the task of national transformation which our administration is embarked on, leaves no room for any distraction."

He appealed "to all our leaders - political, religious, and traditional - to be guided at all times by a sense of proper appreciation of the greater good and an abiding faith in the peace, security, and prosperity of our dear nation".

Earlier in his remark before the submission, the Chairman of the Committee, the Minister of Interior, Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd), said the report if fully implemented would lead to the full disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation or reintegration of the militants.

"Following the concerns of Mr. President on the seemingly intractable conflicts in the Niger Delta region and the need to restore peace and harmony in that part of the country, you set up this body about four weeks ago under my chairman to the grant of amnesty to the aggrieved Nigerians who decided to take laws into their hands in their course of expressing their grievances.

"Mr. President, we have tried to proffer solutions to a number of challenges that will arise in the course of giving meaning to your magnanimity. We are convinced that the recommendations in the report will provide a comprehensive framework for dealing with the matters of disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation or reintegration of the militants.

"The framework recommends the full participation of all tiers of government, security agencies, civil society groups and other stakeholders in achieving the goal of general amnesty for the ex-militants and establishment of lasting peace in the Niger Delta region", he said

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Original date published: 5 June 2009