Amnesty Office Says Ex-Militants On Scholarship Who Cause ‘Disruptions’ Will Be Punished

The Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP) has advised Niger-Delta ex-agitators to mind their conduct and stop disrupting the peace of their respective tertiary institutions, adding that such actions are contrary to the terms of their scholarship.

PAP made this known in a statement made available to THE WHISTLER on Wednesday.

Recall that the programme started on Thursday, July 11, 2009, as an avenue for giving amnesty to Niger Delta militants who had resolved to stop armed struggle over oil dispute in the region.

But it noted that it had to issue the warning due to “recent disruption of learning activities and general disturbance of peace by some students at Gregory University in Uturu, Abia State and Igbinedion University”.

On his part, the Interim Administrator of the programme, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (retd) claimed that the disruption was caused by some of the beneficiaries of the scheme who were enlisted without due process.

He stressed that they should see the scheme as a privilege and maximize it for their own good.

However, Dikio ordered that disciplinary actions be taken against those indicted in the matter

The statement partly read:

“…most of the current scholarship beneficiaries were never part of the initial agitation and must therefore see their inclusion in the scheme as a privilege deserving of their best conduct.

“…many of the disruptive students were the ones who had failed to take advantage of the verification exercises undertaken by the programme. According to the Interim Administrator, ‘No money will be paid to any student who not verified’.

“However, because of compassion, they were given partial scholarships to cover only their tuition to enable them complete their studies.

“This deal, considered a sweet one, was a goodwill gesture by the programme to which they all consented and signed.

“Meanwhile, the verification of students under the scholarship programme of the PAP is still ongoing and will be rounded off soon.”