Cache of arms surrendered by the suspect
• ‘We gave up oil bunkering business for abductions to get government’s attention’
Arsenal of guns, explosives and ammunition were surrendered in Ondo State as militants terrorising parts of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states have finally embraced the Federal Government Amnesty programme.
The dreaded militants are behind the series of kidnap in the region. They were responsible for the recent abduction of six students of Lagos Model College, Igbonla, Epe, Lagos State. The students were rescued in Ondo State. The suspects also allegedly vandalised the Arepo pipeline and attacked persons in the riverine areas.
They were led by their leader, Ogailo Iborri Young a.k.a O.C to the Collection and Documentation of Arms Centre in their hometown, Ajapa community, in Ese-Odo Local Council of the state, where they willingly surrendered their arms and ammunition.
The event was witnessed by the Deputy Governor and Chairman of State Amnesty Committee, Agboola Ajayi, representatives of Delta State government, Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base, Igbokoda, Navy Captain Usman Yahaya among others.Weapons collected included: Browning WZ machine gun, Daewoo K3, Colt Automatic Rifles, General Purpose Machine gun, Breda 30, Fiat Revelli Modelling, AK 47 Rifles, Rocket Launcher, CETME Ameli, Heckler & Koch MG4, Pump Action and Automatic Cartridges.
Similarly, military uniforms, police bullet proof vests, dynamites grenades, bombs and helmets were also surrendered to the state government and security operatives at the collection centre.Leader of the gang, Iborri Young, commended the state and the Federal Government for the fresh amnesty initiative to rid the region of violence and civil unrest. He traced the source of their arms to the supply during Ijaw/Ilaje crisis of 1998/1999 , and attributed the agitations to joblessness, poverty and neglect by government at all levels.
Iborri, who all looked sober, said they decided to give up on their oil-bunkering business and resorted to the kidnapping to draw government’s attention.
Iborri said: “We did not find life very easy. Thus, we relocated to Ogun State, where the Government College, Igbonla, Epe school boys were kidnapped, and whose release led to the current arrangement through the courageous efforts of the deputy governors of Ondo and Delta states.
“We did not kidnap these boys for ransom but to negotiate our freedom and full reintegration to civil life.”Ajayi was happy at the success of the exercise because sophisticated ammunition were surrendered.He assured the readiness of the Federal Government to fulfill its own promise in providing employment and education programme among others for the repentant militants for them to be self reliant if they embrace peace.
The deputy governor urged the beneficiaries to always embrace peace. The Commanding Officer, Navy Captain Yahaya, said the exercise in Ajapa community was more impressive in relation to the record of the exercise since it started some weeks ago.
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