TENSION is building in Bayelsa as hundreds of former militant leaders and former members of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) from the nine states of the Niger Delta will con- verge on Yenagoa today in a crucial meeting.
The meeting will deliberate on an alleged threat by some politicians to disrupt the on-going programme under the leadership of Brigadier General Paul Boroh and also the worrisome increase in oil and gas pipelines vandalism in the region.
Convened under the aegis of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiatives (LPCDI) and led by Pastor Reuben Wilson also known as General Reuben, the meeting is expected to make their stand known on alleged attempts by some politicians from the region to influence Boroh’s removal.
Also on the agenda is the proposed partnership with the military over rising cases of piracy, pipelines vandalism and kidnapping in the region.
Daily Sun investigations indicated that the ex-militants are expected to propose ways of assisting Nigerian security apparatus stem the worrisome tide. National Coordinator of LPCDI, Pastor Wil- son, who confirmed the meeting, said the
decision to meet is based on the negative effect such move would have on the programme and the region.
He explained that the claims against the amnesty office are not true and that some persons from the region sponsor them.