Former Nigerian militants face further investigations in Accra

Myjoyonline (Ghana)

3 February 2011

Former Nigerian militants face further investigations in Accra

Twenty-seven former Niger Delta (Nigeria) militants who were arrested in Takoradi for attempted murder and causing damage are to be brought to Accra for further investigations.

DCOP Hamidu Mahama, Western Regional Police Commander, told Joy News the decision was taken after his outfit held a meeting with a Nigerian Minister of Transport and some officials of the Nigeria High Commission, including the coordinator the people attacked.

The 27 persons were arrested when they allegedly locked up the coordinator in a room and attempted to drown him for failing to pay them their allowances.

The Nigerians were posted to Ghana by the Nigerian government to learn skills in fitting and welding at the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI ) in Takoradi.

According to DCOP Hamidu Mahama, the trainees were supposed to be paid $100 a day but the coordinator they attacked has been deducting the hotel bills and feeding fee out of the $100.

“So they felt cheated because if they have been handed the $100 a day they could make some savings for themselves. So they got annoyed and started rioting, kidnapped their leader and wanted to drown him in a sink,” DCOP Hamidu Mahama told Joy News.

The Nigerians who also assaulted the manager of the hotel could face charges of attempted murder, causing damage and assault.

DCOP Mahama said those who would be exonerated could go back to Takoradi to continue their training.

Earlier, the National Vocational Training Institute dismissed suggestions that the Nigerian students were militants brought into the country to cause trouble.

Stephen Amponsah, the Director of NVTI, Ghana told Joy News the institute has a contract with the Federal Republic Amnesty Programme of Nigeria to train up to 1,000 Nigerian youth. The training regimes each last six months.