I will fight to the end - Ateke

Bolaji Ogundele, Port Harcourt - 03.01.2008

MR. Tom Ateke, the gang leader who claimed responsibility for the New Year day attack in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has rejected the olive branch extended to all armed youths in the state, vowing to ground the Mr. Chibuike Amaechi-led administration.

The state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, had in his speech during New Year banquet at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday evening, called on all armed groups and individuals in the state to lay down their arms and get amnesty.

The governor, who viewed the massacre, in which 16 people lost their lives, as an attempt by some elements to intimidate and harass his administration, however, warned that any militant or cult group that did not lay down its arms had automatically called for war.

“While we appreciate the difficulties of these youths, we shall advise, in very strong terms, that they surrender their weapons to government, while we look for a way of rehabilitating them. Those who surrender their weapons will be granted amnesty while those who refuse to do so will face the wrath of the people and that of the Rivers State government.”

But when contacted on the amnesty promised by the state government, Mr. Tom Ateke said he could not trust the government and would continue his fight against the state.

“Did Amaechi say that we should surrender our weapons for amnesty? When did he say that? He is not sincere. So he wants us to submit our weapons again so that they will come and arrest us the way they arrested Asari after he submitted his weapons? It will not happen.

“There will no longer be the handing over of weapons. If they want peace let us make peace, nobody should talk of handing over weapons. Why do they want to destroy all Ijaws? Wetin we do them? We will fight. We will not submit any weapons again,” Ateke said.