By Soni Daniel

Niger Delta ex-militants are not behind recent robberies and other forms of criminal acts in Lagos, the Presidential Amnesty Office said yesterday.

The PAO position followed media reports that the former militants were behind recent abductions, armed robberies and oil theft.

The Amnesty Office said that it was wrong to associate the ex-militants, who were actively being trained and reintegrated, with criminal activities since they were too busy to be distracted.

In a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Coordinator of the PAO, Mr. Ebitimi George, the office explained that all efforts had been made to ensure that the over 30,000 ex-militants captured under the amnesty package were gainfully engaged to prevent them from engaging in criminality.