Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, has warned any community, group or individual who continues to be in possession of illegal arms and ammunition after the October 4, 2009 deadline for expiration of the presidential amnesty arrangement, to be prepared to face the consequences.
He, therefore, warned all communities, militant groups or persons within the state still holding onto arms illegally, to endeavour to surrender them at the nearest collection point within the next one week; as the Federal Government would not extend the amnesty period.
Uduaghan also disabused the minds of those who might suspect that the amnesty was targeted at any particular person, community or ethnic group in the state and the Niger-Delta region.
The governor, who stated this in Warri, yesterday, noted that it was foolhardy for anyone to continue keeping arms in contemplation of an extension of the amnesty, which Presisdent Umaru Yar’Adua declared on June 25, 2009, but officially took effect from August 6, 2009.“Mr. President is not extending the date by one day.
It is a presidential proclamation; it is publicly signed and the date is on the proclamation, so it is in the interest of those still having arms to bring them out.”
He said the armed forces were poised to go after any arm not surrendered by October 4 deadline, as the Federal Government has provided them better training and logistics to do that.Uduaghan pleaded with all to heed his warning and advice, adding “let me appeal to every Deltan, no matter the ethnic group you belong to; this is your opportunity to surrender your arms and you will be covered under the amnesty.
So, if you have the guns in your farm, inside water or buried anywhere, if it is community gun, individual gun or cult group, you should bring it out, because after October 4, the military is prepared to go for the arms wherever they are.”
