Militants invade Govt. House, hold Deputy Governor hostage

The militants said they came to register their displeasure with the way the government was treating them.

A source who spoke to Premium Times, said they stormed the Government House on Friday, June 1, 2016 around 10am.

The group also accused the state government of withholding their monthly amnesty allowances.

They also frowned at the shoddy way they have been treated by the government at the Federal and state level.

The militant leader who gave his name as capon, said “Our people are dying hopelessly on a daily basis due to minor ailments that could have easily been treated. We have made attempts to dialogue with the governor several times but he would not give us audience and that is why we are here to demand our little stipend.

“We are from the Bakassi Volunteer Force, who have been neglected by government. Our people are dying yet the government is not doing anything. We decided to come out here today to let the entire world know what is happening so when we apply violence against the government nobody will blame us.

“Before the Bakassi Peninsula was handed over to Cameron, both the state and the federal governments benefitted from the proceeds of oil and other business activities from that place. After our homes were handed over, we are treated like strangers in our own land.

“If the federal government has rejected us, we won’t allow our own state too to reject us. We will shut down the governor’s office if nothing is done in the next few days.”

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Christian Ita, also confirmed the incident.