By Jimitota Onoyume
PORT HARCOURT—THE federal government is to send a high powered delegation to attend the graduation ceremony of two hundred and ninety nine reformed militants of Rivers State origin at Okehi, Etche local government area of the state on Thursday.

It would be recalled that in a bid to return the state to the path of peace, Governor Rotimi Amaechi had set up a Social and Rehabilitation Committee, headed by a former security czar in the country, Chief Albert Horsefall.
Among other things, the committee was saddled with the task of reforming and rehabilitating militants.

The Committee Chairman, Chief Horsefall, had in a chat with the Vanguard said no fewer than three thousand militants turned up for the rehabilitation programme.

He said they had to break the number into groups, adding that the first batch of three hundred was sent for a citizenship training in Jos.

According to Chief Horsefall, they were trained in different vocational skills and that one of the three hundred died.
He said the Committee would be graduating the remaining 299 come Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Defense, General Godwin Osagie Abbe (Rtd), who expressed the willingness of the federal government to attend the event in Port Harcourt, said the government would have a lot to learn in the area of planning and implementation of its own programme for repentant militants in the region.

The government had recently declared amnesty for militants in the region and those who keyed in, according to government, would be taken through three phases of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration/rehabilitation.
General Abbe said the state’s programme for repentant militants underscored the seriousness and sincerity of the government towards stemming the tide of militancy.

The Minister, who lauded Governor Amaechi for initiating a programme that uniquely empowered the repentant youths, said his presence at the event would further underscore the federal government’s seriousness with Mr. President’s amnesty programme, which offers a sincere window for   youths who may have derailed in the past to re-integrate into their communities.