Pauline Onyibe 
The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) yesterday denied carrying out any “demobilisation exercise” to recruit individuals for pipeline surveillance and vocational training in Niger Delta.
In a statement by Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator Dennis Otuaro, the programme said the clarification became necessary after the office was inundated with inquiries about the said exercise.
The PAP described the claim as “a scheme orchectrated by fraudulent individuals extorting money from citizens under false pretences”. The statement said:
“These unpatriotic elements claim that the PAP Office will use the demobilisation exercise to recruit people for training in pipeline surveillance and other vocational trades.
“Our findings show that these dishonest persons have deceived their targets into believing that the exercise will take place at designated centres in Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Ondo states etc.
“The PAP office states categorically that it is not organising or carrying out any demobilisation exercise in any part of Niger Delta. “The presidential amnesty office does not collect money or solicit favours from Niger Deltans to be beneficiaries of its educational scholarship scheme and vocational training programmes.
“The office therefore advises the youths and indeed the people of Niger Delta not to fall victim to the criminal activities of these unpatriotic characters. No Niger Delta should be hoodwinked into taking part in the criminal enterprise.”
