From Adibe Emenyonu in Benin, 10.08.2009

Days of militancy may be over as the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhle, yesterday got assurance from militants to end kidnapping.
The militants gave the assurance during a meeting with Oshiomhole, after the protest by the militants over what they called neglect and insensitivity to their plights by the Committee on Amnesty and Disarmament.
In his address, Oshiomhole told them to live in peace, because, good roads, good hospitals and development can only be possible in an atmosphere of peace, adding that no contractor will work in an area where kidnapping of their staff is the order of the day.
Promising to accommodate the interest of their community in board appointments, Oshiomhole said the state government, which has lifted ban on employment, will employ youths from various communities.
He said he had gotten in touch with head of the Presidential Amnesty Committee who is also the Defence Minister, General Godwin Abbe (rtd), who had assured that all the 450 militants would be registered and sent to the rehabilitation centre in Warri, after payment of their outstanding allowance.
The demonstrators, who barricaded major streets in the city, especially Uselu-Lagos Road and Ring Road, prevented motorists from going about their normal businesses.
Edo Government House was not left out, as the protesters blocked its main entrance, preventing movements of vehicles.
Leader of the group, Robert Okobo, who spoke to newsmen at Government House, said the protest was to register their grievances about the committee’s neglect since they surrendered their arms.
According to him, over 450 militants in the state surrendered their arms, but the disarmament committee in the state chose to recognise only 250.
He quoted the state amnesty committee as saying that only 250 militants will be registered at the Federal Government Girls College registration centre, Benin, and taken to the rehabilitation centre in Warri, Delta State.
Besides, Okobo said the N20,000 monthly allowance promised them has not been paid and threatened that they would carry arms again and continue their struggle if their demands were not met.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=156499

For the sake of the good people of Edo state let's hope this will be a lasting truce - The Governor should continue to monitor the progress and ensure that in fact this is the end of the Heinous crime perpetrated on the law-abiding citizens of Edo State.

On a lighter note, maybe the governor actually visits NL.

"On a lighter note, maybe the governor actually visits NL "
I stand in to speak for the governor on NL!

For it to work, its COMBINED efforts from the militants and the Comrade Governor BUT you can be sure that the Comrade Governor on his own part will do all that it takes to fulfill his own side of the bargain

ohisng:

For it to work, its COMBINED efforts from the militants and the Comrade Governor BUT you can be sure that the Comrade Governor on his own part will do all that it takes to fulfill his own side of the bargain

I am glad you represent the governor on NL, and I hope on other blogs as well. At least you are able to relay the heartbeat of the people to Oshiomhole administration - but please don't say the safety of Edo state depends on militant criminal elements; that's like saying the orderliness or safe-haven one’s home provides depends on armed robbers will. That’s such a cowardice copout – if armed robbers constantly invade my home, I will get enough security to repel them. And the operative word here is “enough”. You just don’t take a bow and arrow to a gun battle – if the police can’t control these miscreants, then the governor needs to call in the JTF, and if that does not work, then he needs to look into neighborhood vigilante crime stopping. Like I said before anything to stop these barbaric and heinous crimes perpetrated on innocent citizens.