The Presidential Amnesty Programme has distanced itself from a purported ‘demobilisation exercise’ being promoted in the Niger Delta by individuals who are collecting money from unsuspecting members of the public for pipeline surveillance and other vocational trades.
The amnesty office stated that the clarification became necessary after it was inundated with inquiries from concerned stakeholders regarding the fraudulent exercise.
This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Igoniko Oduma, the Special Assistant on Media to the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, on Tuesday.
The statement explained that the PAP Office, under Otuaro’s leadership, does not collect money or solicit favours from Niger Deltans to become beneficiaries of its educational scholarship scheme and vocational training programmes.
The statement read, “It has come to the attention of the Presidential Amnesty Programme that some unscrupulous elements are collecting money from unsuspecting Niger Deltans for a purported demobilisation exercise by the PAP Office.
“These unpatriotic elements claim that the PAP Office will use the demobilisation exercise to recruit people for training in pipeline surveillance and other vocational trades. Our findings show that these dishonest individuals have deceived their targets into believing that the exercise will take place at designated centres in Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ondo, and other states.
“The PAP Office states categorically that it is not organising or conducting any demobilisation exercise in any part of the Niger Delta. The presidential amnesty office does not collect money or solicit favours from Niger Deltans to become beneficiaries of its educational scholarship scheme and vocational training programmes.”
The Office urged members of the public to be vigilant and report such unscrupulous individuals to security agencies so they can be apprehended and prosecuted.
“The office therefore advises the youths, and indeed the people of the Niger Delta, not to fall victim to the criminal activities of these unpatriotic characters. No Niger Deltan should be misled into participating in this criminal enterprise.
“The PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, condemns the brazen attempt by these unpatriotic characters to tarnish the image of the office with their fraudulent activities.
“The PAP leader urges security agencies to arrest and prosecute those involved in the fake demobilisation programme to serve as a deterrent to others,” the statement added.
