Tompolo surrenders as amnesty ends

How did all these weapon get into the country with our security agencies everywhere?Our security indeed is working.The boys in the creeks have believed in Mr president's amnesty programme and subsequently acted.I pray God to grant Mr president the courage to start visible massive development of this region effective from 4th October,2009.Lets all pray this particular 1 out of the 7 points agenda works because it has ripple effects on the remaining 6.

I hope these weapons will not be used for 2011? 'This is the greatest day in Nigeria' indeed. these crooks have an inflated opinion of themselves. cynics like us are watching.Lets see how you can cure skin cancer using Eczema medication. I hope all the billions allocated or this amnesty program will be accounted for? Instead of Tompolo and his associates to use their might and heart in dealing with the crooks who have helped in raping their area, they were busy bursting pipelines, polluting their environment, kidnapping and killing foreigners and collecting ransom. This is a missed opportunity and i am certain that nothing has and will change. Wait for 2011 and see these bandits return back to the scene. rather still wait and see how the largese is shared amongst his boys after the amnesty.

DECEIT AND DECEIT: Yaradua is only deceiving the world; he's not ready to develop the Niger Delta or solve the problems there. The same Yaradua that is refusing to REPAIR federal roads is dredging the River Niger for a maritime traffic that doesn't exist knowing fully well that the dredging will cause the flooding of human settlements in the Niger Delta. They want to reduce the arms in the Creeks with their fake amnesty before going there to complete their military operation.

Yar'adua must not miss this golden opportunity to deliver his promises.

This is a good development,but in the first place,how did all these arms get into the country? What is the assurance that more will not come in through the same route. Government still has a lot of work to do.

nigeria and nigerians are blessed with great and good opportunities, but the egocentricity of our useless and soon to be dead leaders is making life hard for us,all this millitants leaders surrendering their weapons am sure they did under duress or they ve been charmed if otherwise you are all (millitant leader} stupid except the great MEND, i am sure we will al regret this act of amnesty very soon, bcos this is one of their many ways of playing with our brains, all niger deltans be warned

i really thank God ,for he tourches the militant hearts to surrender their weapon. well, govt still have a lots of work to do, for, he has to meet the need of this people, so that they will not go back again. Also, how are we sure that they summited all the weapons within their custody and how did the weapons get to them.finally,i will advises the govt to please endeavour to meet the need of this people.

the armnesty has ended this is the time for action ,we call on the govt to honour their promise of massive development of the area.to look at the root cause of the armed struggle,lack of development, economic deprivation,environmental degredation,lack of social amenestics,criminal neglect of the area,corruptions etc these are questions that needs to be answer .the president shuold do the right thig by addressing this griviances.then he will be our hero just like obasanjo did with gsm phones

seeing the fire power of the weapons surrendered by the 'repentant' militants, fear gripped me for our own dear native land, nigeria. something tells me that less than a tenth of these weapons have been disclosed and that everyone is simply waiting for when the cookies would crumble for them to return to the creeks and trenches once more. Another fear is the inability of our politicians to manage any kind of success at all - just see what they have done to the house that Lugard built over the years. And by the way has anyone stopped to ponder why the River State governor, Amaechi, has not featured prominently in the near home video scenario of the militants surrendering - hmmn, some chestnuts appear to still be right in the middle of the fire. Finally, last litmus test for the giving and accepting of the amnesty is not what we are currently witnessing; but what we will see as the build up to the 2011 elections begin. May God help Nigeria.

I am happy to see the violence in the Delta end for now. Whether Yaradua's government can keep its word, in the light of their dismal record in this regard, remains to be seen. I personally think that these militants have been tricked. Maybe their leaders have been "settled", who knows? The other question relates to whether those foreign oil companies can change their destructive ways. Can a leopard change its spots, or a tiger it's stripes? We shall see.

I also wonder how they got into the country... seems our borders are more porous than we really know... if all these sophisticated arms were surrendered, i wonder how many more are still hidden, buried and waiting... I'm sure with the way things are going, we should get a clearer picture when Anambra votes in 2010. GOD please keep watching over our country...

What is the difference between the Nigerian army and the militants when both armed, brutish, uncivil, and looters? If anything, the Nigerian army too needs to embrace amnesty.

"SHAME TO BAD PEOPLE" look at how these imperialists succeeded in flooding our shores with arms while stealing our hydrocarbons. I think we should push to label these imperialist as beneficiaries of BLOOD OIL!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...! Make we sidon look. The more you look the less you see.

i doubt if this amnesty will end the restivness in the niger Delta region

Is not the thank you is the matter, but for Nig Govt 2 keep their promise. i know quite sure that, Govt will fail them at the end of the day. a very nice devepolment.

fellers..the most important thing is that the president has granted them amnesty and forgiveness..i realy appreciate this step..this means that God has given ears to poor citizens of this Courntry..rather than critisize..its better to Thank GOD..

While our police and soldiers dedicated their time to collecting bribe from and harrassing unarmed, innocent and hardworking citizens of Nigeria, they were completely unaware that large caches of arms were being circulated. My fear is that now that these arms have been surrendered,government will surely allocate them to the police and soldiers.Yeeeee! Innocent citizens are in more trouble.

1. “The amnesty committee will work with the repentant militants to know the cause of their problems with a view to providing a permanent solution,” - Gen. Godwin Abbe, Nigeria's Minister of Defence. As these militants/Niger Delta people celebrate the amnesty/peace, the Federal Government does not even have a clue about what led to the taking up of arms in the first place, Gen. Abbe? Or is it that Abuja prefers not to know, since no person of deep political pedigree is currently among those surrendering arms? Hmmm! Serious food for thought. 2. "The Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, said the heap of arms and ammunition he was looking at afforded him the opportunity to know the challenges of people in the area." - Mr. Segun Mimiko, Ondo State Governor. Until the arms were surrendered, the Ondo State Governor, whose state also produces crude oil, did not have an idea of "the challenges of the people in the (oil producing) area." Hmmm! And this is an area that would have benefited from the resource control agitation!!! Ostriches as political leaders. Let's wait and see where the papering over this obvious constitutional and institutional problems will lead the Niger Delta, and indeed Nigeria.

GOD HAS DECLARED PEACE OVER NIGERIA BECAUSE THIS YEAR'S INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY IS A YEAR OF COMPLETE PERFECTION(7x7=49) FOR PEACE,LOVE,UNITY AND PROGRESS IN JESUS NAME. Nobody was there when GOD ALMIGHTY created NIGERIA so NOBODY can separate us. Those of you abusing NIGERIA you are only inviting wrath of GOD on your head.Try and pray for this country to be GREATER and know that it is against GOD to say unwholesome things about our LEADERS.Always Pray for the PRESIDENT,GOVERNORS,SENATORS and others GOD has put in AUTHORITY.When you do this always GOD will continue to BLESS our GREAT NATION NIGERIA.If you think Nigeria is bad please change your country.Stop criticizing our COUNTRY NEGATIVELY Fellow country men.

if only the government will stick to their own side of the bargain,then their will be end to the restiveness in the niger delta.....but i dont have any form of trust in the government.

We pray that peace be now allowed to prevail and the root cause of the militancy in the Niger Delta addressed. In that regard the call byformer Edo State Governor John Oyegun and Elder EK Clarke for The President to call General Abbe, the Defence Minister to order is most timely. The man has been making many provocative statements and trying to intimidate Niger Deltans with the newly acquired military hardware. Abbe has a poor record as former Military Administrator of the Rivers State when a whole village was destroyed and the traditional chief gunned down for resisting Police armed attack on them. It is strange that a Bini man for that matter will allow himself to be used to promote the Arewa agenda at a time when many Arewa loyalists are beginning to re-think their rigid approach to the problems of the Niger Delta. Dr. Shettima Mustafa as Minister of Defence was trying to find a genuine solution to the militancy in the Niger Delta. Why should Abbe be more catholic now than the Pope? There must be a long cooling off process and period. Moving into the area now with military force will be a grievious mistake. The elders have called for the removal of the JTF from the area for now. Many in that Force have been accused of promoting bunkering in the creeks and will strive to remain there!

I want to join the entire country in celebration, it is a day of God and i need to rejoice with my people. But in the midst of this joyous mood,we need to ponder together on the seriousness and committment of the government to address the problems of the people of niger delta. Hope it is not about oil but to achieve meaningful development of the area as promised by the President Yaradua. Again, i we like to commend the militants who have towed the part of peace and surrendered thier ammunitions. They are courageous fighters who are committed to the course of the entire niger daltans. I call you heroes of our time. Above all, i wish to adnonish the president to move on courageously and address all the issues raised by the miliants and bring about meaningful development of the area. The government to me as done the best for her people and deserve as much commendation as she can get, at lest for once. But the government must fulfil her promise to the people of niger delta, failure to do as promised will bring about greater calamity.Ammunitions abound everywhere and can still be sought in millions to prosecute another round of brutal war if situations call for it. The gover.nment should bear in mind her porous borders where anything can flow in unchecked or with little kickbacks. Thank you all for this moment of joy.

What of the complaints about some militants not given money promised to them. Govrenment should please match words with action. This advice is for the upteenth time

This is the greatest thing that President Yar'adua will achieve in the all of his tenue as a President, it is good but we need Yar'adua to be very vibrant in other issues eg Power Sector. because if u can achieve armnesty u can also achieve Power Sector. thanks Jenom Abuja.

This is the greatest thing that President Yar'adua will achieve in the all of his tenue as a President, it is good but we need Yar'adua to be very vibrant in other issues eg Power Sector. because if u can achieve armnesty u can also achieve Power Sector. thanks Jenom Abuja.

Amnesty is really not the issue.Are the Governments ready to develop the Niger Delta region?The huge sum of money spent on amnesty is enough to go into practical development which the people wants.People should stop misleading people.If not for God's grace a lot of youth would have been mislead. Why Government recognizes and favoured those with arms leading many others into carrying arms. I enjoin Mr President to be a leader to those that has no leader,be a freedom fighter to those that has none,create jobs to those whose fathers,uncles,etc are not in government.Sincerely,Amnesty offer without practical development is useless.We are all happy with this amnesty which an opportunity for all round development.

For those who doubt God, this has again proved that God answers prayers. It shows that our prayers for the peaceful coexistence as a nation is not in vain. To God be the glory. LET US PRAY.

All of a sudden,we have all decided to drop our weapons.Well let us wait and see the what happens aftrewards

i believe the presidential commttee as part of their finding for reintegretion and rehabilitation progremme ask the millitants some fundermental question as the source and financier of these arms,By what means of transportation does the weapons enter the country and who are their security supporters,who are their trainners and at what place.To me repetant millitant and their leaders were only the excutioners and not policy formulators.so if armnesty is been offered to excutioners what should we offer the policy formulators? what a great Drama.

Will this armnesty work? 'Umaru' the ball is in your court! The guns are down, send in your buldozers now without delay. Goodluck....................................

Niger Delta disarmament! What a drama! Well, i thank God that for sometime, tranquility will at least prevail in the creeks. But if i may ask, what is the rehabilitation scheme mapped by our government to address the concerns of the people of the Niger Delta? I am not being a pessimist but lets face the fact... When the amnesty money is exhausted and nothing more to sustain or make life better in the creeks, expect the region to revert to status quo.

Its really nice to have peace and tranquility in this part of our country but we should not forget that some "hoodlums" are still lurking in the dark,regardless of what the President come up with,another era of thugs have just been given birth to..without being a pessimist,I'll say this is the begining of a load of shit! Well see.....

It is indeed a welcome development for the boys in the creeks to lay down their 'weapons of mass destruction' and embrace the amnesty provided by the president. But certain questions have to be answered. How did these weapons in the first place get into Nigeria? Are all these all that there is? What about MEND that is still spitting fire? Are they going to be treated like criminals? The militants that embraced amnesty are they going to be settled? Now if they are settled how are they going to settle those of us from the same Niger delta that are yet to take up arms? These are nagging questions that demand answers.

I listened to Ateke yesternite as he crunched pieces of poor English while expressing himself. I felt nothing but pity for him as I decided to turn the table around. He could have been an eloquent speaker of the language if he had the opprotunity of a good school education equivalent to the money being made from degrading his land and I can tell he has sworn to disallow a repeat of his denial of good education likewise every other good condition of existence to his children and likewise children of his land fellows. The mountain of arms I saw is really alarming. Reminds of the movie Commando and an old war movie; A Bridge too far. Our President should better make good his promises to these dudes because I can bet my life that what was submitted were only the scissors, staplers and kitchen knives. Any attempt by the govt to dissapoint these dudes, Nigeria will see their real armoury. Believe it or not! I am sure our selfish politicians will also be jostling badly to have a piece of what was surrendered to begin mounting guard for the approaching 2011. Shameless retards!!!!

Hmmm. One cannot be but a little doubtful given this government's record of keeping their promises. There is no plan, alas - just hope

I say with all sincerity that we accept the amnesty offer and have sincerely laid down our arms for the development of our dear region but make i warn una''if federal government try play wayo for this thing we go return to base''.Thank you fellow nigerians for your understanding.

This is a welcome development but it is now up to the government to live up to expectations and ensure there is rapid development in the niger delta.

I am very impressed with the bold step that Tompolo and his boys have taken. But I do hope it's not for National Heroism? By the way? Mr. President, how do we believe that this is not a hearse. Well, let's hope that the effective fulfillment of this initiative will have a ripple effect on the other six point agendas!

Na wah oo; just musing, if all this guys are from the Ondo state sector how come their activities were not felt. just thinking out loud

Some Nija like Edewor will not stop doubting fake guy .May be he dey chop for de thing He no want make kidnapping stop Thank u jare my country men. Nija go better

Yar'dua will not develop the Niger Delta, he will only tell them that he has created the ministry of niger delta. he is just decieving those boys. If he does not fullfill his promises then the next set of militant is going to make use of armont car, choppers, war ships and war plane, rocket and all other sophisicated equipment because they will feel that they are at the end of the world. The federal government would have not be able to disarm these boys if not for the sake of God. They weapons were too many and the boys were too many so it would have become a second civil war if they did have not accept the ammnesty. If this country is going to remain as one, the federal govt., should develop the niger delta if not they will fight nigeria the way the Igbo people did (Biafra war)

I think we need to give 'baba go slow' some kudos no matter how little. I must say I really didn't think the exercise will be this successful. i am impressed.

The picture above is an evidence that Nigeria is failing if it has not failed already

Amnesty means pardon. But did the militants ask for pardon or is this a kind of make-belief surrender? Whatever it is, please remember that development can only take place in an environment of peace. Leaders should have good vision for the people of Nigeria - not only in Niger/Delta region. Nowhere is development taking place as much as is possible in Nigeria given the resources that flow through the economy. Nigerians are getting poorer by the day; her children are running out of the country in droves; there has been no electricity for years, no water supply, no good health care, no roads, no good schools and no jobs amongst others. What is the use of a Nigerian civil society when all these cannot be provided. Those who have not carried arms are fighting wars with their tongues...under their roofs and at social gatherings. LET THE GOVERNMENT TURN THINGS ROUND. THE NIGER/DELTA CRISIS IS JUST A TIP OF THE ICEBERG. MAY THE LORD HELP US TO UNDERSTAMD THAT PEACE CAN ONLY COME IF THE PEOPLE'S LIVING STANDARD IS IMPROVED.

I can't but imagine the foolhardiness of our leaders. Instead of pondering over issues of insecurity and bringing genuine development to the people. I mean how did those weapons meander their way into the country. Why on earth should criminals and rogues be given presidential treatment? We seriously need to set our priorities right.

Now that te militants are coming nout to surrender, I pray that Nigeria will move forward from there

What can I say but thank you Lord for bringing us (Nigeria)this far, I pray that the federal government will keep their promise just as this people has summited they weapons to the federal government for peace to regin, with the way of our government habit of promise and fail, I pray to God they will keep this one, if not for anything for dignity sake, this people truly need help.

Good but the Government should be ready to address the niger delta land crisis

I thank God that the niger delta region have finally realiyed thier mistake and surrenderd their arms.I hope this amnesty offer is for the good of the country.please i need help,iam writting an essay on AMNESTY,THE SOLUTION TO MILITANCY.I WANT YOU TO SEND DETAILS ON THE SOLUTION.I am a student of JOLATSEN SECONDARY SCHOOL GWAGWALADA ABUJA.Thanks