BY FESTUS AHON
UGHELLI—SOME aggrieved former militants in the Niger Delta region, yesterday, barricaded the East/West Road in protest against their exclusion from the Federal Government amnesty programme.

The former militants, who burnt used tyres at Oghoro Junction on the busy East/West Road, barricaded the road, causing grid lock.

Travelers were made to spend several hours to drive through the barricaded area of the road, while some travelers, who could not stand the chanting by the aggrieved former militants, fled into the bush for safety.

One of the leaders of the aggrieved ex-militants,  who spoke to newsmen, Umukoro, said they were being marginalised in the Federal Government amnesty programme.

Umukoro lamented that after they were made to surrender their arms with a promise that they would be catered for under the amnesty programme, they were being subjected to undue hardship by government.

Calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the amnesty office to look into their agitation, he said they surrendered their arms in the interest of peace.

Spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, Lt Col Timothy Antigha, confirmed the incident. He added that they mobilized to the scene on getting wind of it.

Antigha in telephone chat, said they arrested one of the leaders of the aggrieved ex-militants,  adding that he was being interrogated at press time.