Suspected kidnappers of Epe pupils join others to surrender arms in Ondo

A gang of suspected kidnappers allegedly involved in the adoption of some pupils in Epe area of Lagos State have surrendered their arms in the ongoing amnesty exercise in Ondo State.

Some of the militants and others terrorising parts of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states were said to have finally submitted their arms and ammunition on Monday as part of the ongoing Federal Government’s amnesty programme.

Led by Ogailo Iborry Young a.k.a O.C to the Collection and Documentation of Arms Centre in their hometown, Ajapa Community in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state, they were said to have dropped their arms and ammunition.

The event was witnessed by the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the State Amnesty Committee, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, representatives of Delta State Government, Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base, Igbokoda, Navy Captain Usman Yahaya, among others and it was seen by the residents as a way of restoring peace in the riverine area.

Arms submitted include: Browning WZ machine gun, Daewoo K3, Colt Automatic Rifles, General Purpose Machine gun, Breda 30, Fiat Revelli Modelling, AK 47 Rifles, Rocket Launcher, CETME Ameli, Heckler & Koch MG4, Pump Action and some automatic cartridges.

Also, military uniforms, police bullet proof vests, dynamites, grenades, bombs and helmets were submitted.

The gang leader said the source of their arms could be traced to the Ijaw/ Ilaje crisis of 1998/1999 and blamed joblessness, poverty and neglect by government as some of the reasons for their action.