Metro

2,000 cultists embrace Gov Wike’s amnesty in Rivers

Published

8 years ago

October 23, 2016

Another of Gov Wike's image/information aide resigns

Incessant kidnapping and armed robbery may soon be a thing of the past in Rivers State, as about 2,000 cult members embraced the amnesty declared by the state government.

The cult members laid down their weapons in the presence of the state’s Amnesty Committee at Isiokpo, the headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.

The cultists had held the state in the jugular for a while through cult wars, kidnappings and armed robbery.

Weapons such as AK 47 rifles, G3, dane guns, dynamite, NATO gun and detonators were surrendered.

The Chairman of the committee, Ken Chinda, while speaking after the event, expressed optimism that peace would return to Ikwerre with the surrender.

According to Chinda, the cult groups that surrendered included Iceland and Debam, adding that the state government would help them to pursue their dreams while also admonishing them not to go back to crimes.

He however said soldiers would go after cultists who refuse to embrace the state amnesty programme put in place by the state Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Chinda also declared two cult leaders wanted for shunning the amnesty programme. According to him, Samuel Nkasiobi, aka Italian, and Okechukwu Amadi, aka Gunboat are now enemies of the state.

He said: “We are all witnesses to what some misguided youths have done in Ikwerre LGA where people are predominantly farmers. Many could not farm because the militants are living in the forest where their farms are located.”

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ikwerre LGA, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, in his speech, said the repentance of the cult members would allow farmers to return to their farms.

Nwanosike also disclosed that the sum of N10m would be paid to anybody that could give any information on the whereabouts of the two cult leaders that have been declared wanted.

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews….

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Click to comment

Johnson Amadi

October 23, 2016 at 1:08 pm

Wike should be given some credits for this, no matter how hard the state fights cultists, they will keep increasing. It’s best to tell them to surrender and give them amnesty. It’s a bold and courageous step from Wike.

Reply
- yanju omotodun
  
  October 23, 2016 at 2:50 pm
  
  Soon Wike will grant amnesty to kidnappers, armed robbers as well as murders. He thought granting amnesty to cultists is similar to granting amnesty to Niger Delta militants. Mtchewww.
  
  Reply
  - Amaka Okoro
    
    October 24, 2016 at 9:49 am
    
    A foolish man remain a foolish man . wike is a foolish man who think he can use amnesty to achieved is aims
    
    Reply
Animashaun Ayodeji

October 23, 2016 at 1:11 pm

This is absolutely rubbish! Giving armed rubbers, kidnapers, cultists amnesty without sanctioning them for the deadly crimes they have committed. I think Wike is out of his senses.

Reply
- JOHNSON PETER
  
  October 23, 2016 at 2:20 pm
  
  What do you expect from a cultist governor than to grant his colleagues amnesty.
  
  Reply
Margret Dickson

October 23, 2016 at 1:13 pm

If the government can provide necessary facilities that will enhance good living, we’d have less cases of armed robberies, kidnaps and other criminal offenses.

Reply
- chichi emerue
  
  October 24, 2016 at 6:59 am
  
  You are right but they can’t do that because they have dirty game at hand and does criminals would be the one to care out their dirty assignment
  
  Reply
victoria wilson

October 23, 2016 at 6:22 pm

The ikwerre community is known for their violence, 1 out of every 3 ikwerre boy is a cult member. This is good. I think the state govt did well with dis amnesty program.

Reply
- Amarachi Okoye
  
  October 24, 2016 at 9:25 am
  
  Yes they did well by creating the amnesty program but i doubt if that Will stop the cult boys from there illegal behiavour
  
  Reply