Ex-militants’ protest: Army, DSS, Police, Navy take over Warri, Effurun

THE Nigerian Army, Navy, Police and Department of State Services, DSS, have deployed personnel in strategic locations in Warri, Effurun and environs in Delta State, following intelligence report that ex-militants plan to protest the non-payment of their monthly allowances.

Reacting to the development, yesterday, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd), told Vanguard on phone that there was no need for the protest. He said: “It is true that there are some debts, but the money has come. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, will start payment from today or tomorrow. I have long passed this information to the ex-militants that payment will start soon.

 I do not know why some of them are still insisting on the protest.” Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Joseph Dzunve, who also spoke to Vanguard, said: “The reported planned protest is already in the media which seems to be ahead of others in sharing the alert. And you would have noticed that since Saturday, the Army, Police, Navy and other security agencies have mobilized their men to be on ground to check any unruly act.” A source close to the Police Area Commander, Warri, Muazu Mohammed, said the police have mobilized and were ready to maintain peace in the area. Vanguard noticed a build-up of security operatives, particularly at DSC Roundabout, Jakpa Junction, Effurun Roundabout, Old Port vicinity among other areas, in Warri and environs. 

A DSS source in the locality explained that the ex-militants planned to carry out the protest last Wednesday and Thursday, but security operatives aborted same. He said: “With the feelers we now have, anything can happen as they withdrew into their shell in the last few days. But I think it is not even a security concern to stop their protest. The fear is whether they will be lawful about it, added to concerns that hoodlums can take advantage of the situation.” Residents alerted Vanguard that soldiers of the 3 Battalion, Effurun, David Ejoor Barracks, were seen patrolling major roads in Effurun and Warri with military trucks, while some were stationed at the DSC Roundabout.