Ex-militants hold Delta deputy govhostage

Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos
Utuama, was yesterday held hostage at
the Government House annex, Warri by
aggrieved former militants who were
protesting alleged undue delay in the
payment of their monthly allowances by
the amnesty office.
The protesters, no fewer than 100,
barricaded the entrance to the
Government House and insisted that the
state’s number two citizen would not
leave until their demands were met or
concrete promise made.
The former militants had blocked East/
West road for hours last week in protest
over delay in the payment of the said
allowances.
During yesterday’s protest however, the
police and operatives of the joint military
task force were on ground to restore
normalcy.
Meanwhile, the Press Secretary to the
deputy governor, Augustine Avwode, said
in a statement that Prof. Utuama was not
held hostage by the former militants,
saying there was no reason for such an
action.
He explained that the former militants had
staged peaceful demonstrations over their
unpaid monthly stipends.
“On Monday, the boys protested and only
went to express their grievances
yesterday when they heard that the
deputy governor was at Government
House Annex in Warri. They subsequently
dispersed after expressing their
grievances in the hope that the deputy
governor will relay them to higher
quarters.