The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, on Friday in Abuja warned people living around the vicinity of militant camps in the Niger Delta to leave immediately.
Petinrin, who gave the warning at a news conference, said that the military would no longer tolerate the existence of militant camps in the Niger Delta.
He said the military had observed with great concern some criminal acts within the past few days by some people claiming to be militants.
Petinrin noted that in order to significantly reduce violence, conflict and lawlessness, and to begin a long-term development of the Niger Delta, the Federal Government began the presidential amnesty initiative which started on Aug. 6, 2009.
He said the amnesty, which ended on Oct. 4, 2009, was an unconditional pardon to all persons who had directly or indirectly participated in the commission of offences associated with militant activities in the Niger Delta.
Petinrin said the amnesty was to lead to the reintegration of the militants into the larger society after the handover of their arms, adding that since the end of the amnesty last year, no one was expected to be living in a militant camp.
Petinrin said efforts would be made to assist those who might need to relocate temporarily until ``the clearing out of these dens of common criminals have been concluded’’.
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