Nigerian militants give up weapons to police

Nigerian militants give up weapons to police

news.yahoo.com

YENAGOA, Nigeria – A top militant commander and his followers in Nigeria's oil-rich Delta region on Saturday surrendered rocket launchers, gunboats, guns and bullets in the biggest hand-over of weapons since a government amnesty began two weeks ago.

Nearly 600 militants danced and cheered as they handed over their weapons in torrential rains to police and officials in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa state.

Ebikabowei "Boyloaf" Victor Ben, state commander for the region's biggest armed group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, and 25 commanders under his leadershi

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Good Link

[edit on 8/22/2009 by semperfortis]

Such a heartwarming story...such forsight and wisdom shown by those young men in Nigeria. There comes a time when weapons are useless...when the strength of the forces they are up against are recognized to transcend human comprehension.

If there truely exists some basis of this conflict...it is now recognized that Mao was wrong...its resolution will not proceed from the barrel of a gun. But through dialouge and good faith. This should be an example for the Jihadis. They should learn from this.

news.yahoo.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by IDK88


It is a good thing, of course.

However..................

Lets be clear, they are turning in their weapons because Nigeria is tracking them down and killing them, just like their leader.

reply to post by mrmonsoon


Tracking them down and killing them...yes that it how it works. The Mongols were very compassionate to the cities and villages that willing surrendered without a fight, but ruthlessly smote all resistance.

It's always better if they just give up. They can open a small business or learn a trade. Or they can choose the alternative...free will.

this story reminds me of a line from the movie "Shooter"

the Russian character is talking about Nigerian villages.

"They would go in and kill everyone and everything who did not want to leave, that way they would not have to ask the next village"

reply to post by IDK88


Mind you......

I am not saying I agree with that, just it is the fact's of this issue.

I firmly believe that they see it as turn in weapons and "play nicely" or die.