Tension Mounts As Unrepentant Militants Regroup In Imo Oil Communities
Dream of a lasting peace in oil producing communities of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas of Imo State has come under severe threat, following the alleged return of some fleeing members of dreaded cult and militant groups that refused to surrender their arms to the state government under the recent amnesty programme.
Nigerian Pilot gathered yesterday that some unrepentant members of the Red Scorpion militant group have started regrouping with some of them who had fled the troubled communities being sighted in the areas, even as they reportedly boasted of getting set for more attacks against individuals and oil companies in the areas.
A community leader who gave his name as Chief Ben Onyenwoke confirmed to newsmen in Owerri yesterday that some leaders of the Red Scorpion militant group who refused to surrender their arms on September 14 at the government house had started resurfacing in the communities.
According to him, the “bad boys” are back and are boasting to be armed to the teeth with military uniform for a worse onslaught, especially if the state government failed to keep its words on the amnesty deal.
Onyenwoke disclosed that some of the leaders of the militants simply identified as Felix, Charlie, and Emenike among others who ran away to the neighbouring town of Omoku in Rivers State on the day of surrendering arms had reappeared.
He claimed that some of the arms surrendered by the supposed repentant militants were inferior ones while the superior ones were hidden for more attacks should government fail to meet their demands.
It would be recalled that Governor Rochas Okorocha had on the day of the event assured the repentant Avengers and some members of the Red Scorpion that he would not hesitate to send soldiers and other security agencies against them if they continued to carry arms after surrendering.
He promised to do whatever was within his power to address some of the demands of the militants and advised them to embrace peace and reintegrate themselves into their communities.
