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| Ateke Tom |
The leader of Niger Delta Vigilante, Ateke Tom, has raised alarm over a plot to scuttle peace moves in the volatile oil-rich Niger Delta region.
Ateke Tom, who spoke in an interview at his Okrika home, said some highly-placed politicians and government officials who were profiting from the continued violence in the Niger Delta were hell-bent on eliminating him.
The militant leader said he is ready for peace moves initiated by some good-spirited people of the region. According to him “I want peace and I want all the youths in the Niger Delta to stop hostage taking and kidnapping”.
“Kidnapping and hostage taking is not good for us. I Am calling on the youths of the Niger Delta to stop hostage taking. They should allow people in the Niger Delta to enjoy peace” he said.
Ateke Tom who has being in hiding since 2006 after a clash with members of the joint military taskforce in the Niger Delta said he is ready to give peace a chance and guarantee an end to unrest in the creeks and towns in the Niger Delta region.
He however frowned at moves by some highly-placed individuals to kill him to ensure that the peace initiative to end hostilities in the region. He stated that in recent weeks, there have been increased armed attacks on his boys in the creeks provoking them to contemplate retaliating.
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Investigations revealed that these highly-placed individuals are at the forefront of negotiating release of expatriate workers kidnapped by militants. They are being paid consultancy fees to mediate between hostage-takers and firms of governments paying ransom for kidnapped workers.
The latest peace move is an initiative of a non-governmental organization, Kirike Be-Se Peace and Development Project to ensure end to hostilities and guarantee the safety of expatriate workers of multi national firms operating in the Niger Delta region.
Ateke Tom who hails from Okrika local government area of Rivers State in the Niger Delta region has been at the forefront of armed struggle for the “emancipation” of the region through his Niger Delta Vigilante group. The joint military taskforce had last year declared him wanted and placed a 5-million naira reward for information leading to his arrest.