By Admin 
The Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality Ex-Agitators’ Joint Action Committee has accused the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, of deliberately marginalising their members enrolled in the third phase of the initiative.
This allegation was made in a petition dated April 9, addressed to the Office of the National Security Adviser. The petition was electronically signed by the committee’s Chairman, Comrade Mene Dennis, and Secretary, Comrade Bibi Gbemi.
In the petition, the group stated:
“We are Itsekiri ex-agitators who were captured in the third phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in 2013, following the voluntary submission of our arms in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State. Our participation was part of the Federal Government’s disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration efforts aimed at restoring peace in the region.”
They further emphasized that the Itsekiri Nation remains a critical stakeholder in the amnesty programme and deserves equal access to its benefits, just like other ethnic groups in the Niger Delta.
“We wish to clarify the misconception that the 500 Itsekiri ex-agitators included in the programme were added merely as impacted persons.
We accepted the limited number with the understanding that all beneficiaries would receive training abroad—an agreement that has seen some of our members already deployed to foreign universities,” the petition stated.
The group urged the authorities to act swiftly.
“We respectfully submit this petition requesting your intervention to address the deliberate neglect and marginalisation of Itsekiri ex-agitators before the situation escalates.
This call is made in the interest of fairness, equity, and justice, and in our collective effort to promote peace and development in the Niger Delta.”