JTF Issues One Week Ultimatum For Surrender Of Illegal Weapons

The Joint Military Task, JTF, Operation Restore Hope, in the Niger Delta has issued a one week ultimatum to people still bearing arms illegally in the region to voluntarily surrender them starting from today or be forced to do so.

The Spokesman for JTF, Lt. Colonel Timothy Antiga, said the military outfit has been forced to take such stance because of the upsurge in criminal activities that are traceable to illegal arms in the hands of unauthorised persons.

Colonel Antiga stated that voluntary surrender of arms within the one week period would not be a guarantee for cash-for-arms as the time for Presidential amnesty elapsed since last year.

According JTF, “voluntary surrender of illegal arms is not a guarantee for amnesty because JTF has no such powers to grant presidential amnesty as that is an exclusive prerogative of Mr. President”.

JTF said modalities for the surrender of arms will be announced later and as it is poised to mop-up arms.

However, JTF said the centres would be in Warri, Delta, Yenagoa, Bayelsa and Port Harcourt in Rivers State.

JTF said at the expiration of the one week ultimatum, JTF would apply every necessary means under the law to recover such arms.

By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt