Skip to main content

No Amnesty For Cultists, Criminal Gangs In Rivers, RSG Vows

The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara’s administration has dashed any hope of granting any form of amnesty for repentant criminal gang members terrorising the state.

The state Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Chisom Kenneth Gbali, stated this in a chat with journalists on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

Gbali said that granting amnesty would encourage others carrying arms and killing law-abiding people in the state.

He said those in crimes and in cult groups would rather be rehabilitated and re-integrated into the society.

“Granting amnesty to cultists will only encourage more youths into criminality”.

Gbali stated this on Thursday, September 28, 2023, during a live interview session at a Port Harcourt-based radio station: Nigerian Info 92.3 FM.

“What we had in 2019 by the Presidency was amnesty due to agitation by the people of the Niger Delta who were agitating for inclusion, mainstreaming and integration into oil This is still ongoing as the quest for that mainstreaming has not been met. This agitation was what led to amnesty and it was worth it at that time. But I’m saying this is not always the best approach, this is not always the way to go”, he said.

The commissioner further said that rather than being reactive to issues of cultism and criminality, the administration of Sir Siminalayi Fubara has decided to be proactive by preparing Rivers Youth through education in different spheres such as ICT Trainings, Vocational Trainings and Entrepreneurship Trainings.

“Rivers youth have been adjudged to be unemployable, but we are changing that narrative because we are not just planning for them but we are making them part of what we are doing,” he said.

He also said the youth were full of dexterity and energy that need to be harnessed and channelled into useful endeavours hence, the Ministry of Youth Development has come up with a working plan, tagged, “Preparedness Plan for Rivers Youth Paradigm from Unemployability to Resourcefulness”, to train and empower Rivers youth to be resourceful and earn multiple streams of income.

According to him, “Some have gone far (in vices) and will need rehabilitation, especially our youth that are drug-ridden. There is nobody we cannot get back to their feet”.

Having gone to 16 out of 23 LGAs for Youth Sensitization and Advocacy visit under the express approval of the governor, Gbali said that Rivers youth were giving a positive feedback on their willingness to be part of the Preparedness Plan of the ministry.

Gbali insisted that granting amnesty to criminals would encourage other youths to engage in cultism, crime and criminality.

He stated that the state government was partnering with the Federal Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to train youth in various fields beginning from the first quarter of next year.

He urged youth in the state to seize the opportunity to better their lives.

Recall that facts later emerged that the late SP Bako Angbashim the Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada in Ahoad-East Local Government area was tricked and murdered by the most wanted cult kingpin, Gift David Okpara Okpolowu alias 2-Baba and his gang members pretending that they were surrendering arms and ready for amnesty.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SSG Charges IST To Restore Confidence In Stock Exchange .Tasks FCC On Ensuring Quota For Rivers Indigenes

The Secretary to Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, has tasked members of the Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST) restore the confidence of Nigerians in the Capital Market. The SSG regretted that many Nigerians have lost hope in the Capital Market following its collapse with no recourse to retrieve funds or make stock brokers accountable to give dividends. Speaking to members of the IST, led by its Chairman, Hon Amos Azi, during a courtesy visit in his office on Friday, he maintained that the huge potentials for wealth creation through the stock market is still enormous, while calling on the IST to work assiduously to restore the optimism of Nigerians through its mission and provide efficient resolution of capital market disputes with fairness, flexibility, transparency and without fear or favour. Speaking, the Chairman of the Investment and Securities Tribunal, Hon. Amos Azi, informed that the tribunal was set up to promote financial market integrity and stability in th...
Post a Comment
Read more

We’ll Implement All Agreements With Labour, FG Assures

In an attempt to avert the strike threat from organised labour, the Federal Government has promised to implement all agreements entered into with the unions. The government said it would address all concerns raised by the unions, noting that it has demonstrated sincerity in its ongoing negotiations with the trade unions because it acknowledges and was concerned about the hardship Nigerians were currently undergoing. The Minister of State for Labour, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said these while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday, February 9, 2024. Nigerian workers had declared their readiness to embark on a nationwide strike over the economic hardship in the country. They have issued a 14-day ultimatum commencing on February 9 to the Federal Government to address the current hardship in the country or face workers’ wrath. The organised labour, in a statement jointly signed by the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and  TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, on Thursday, Februa...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fubara Eulogises Herbert Wigwe, Assures To Immortalise His Legacies

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that the late Herbert Wigwe lived an impactful life, affecting society positively, and pledged the determination of his administration to immortalise him as a worthy son of the state. The governor made the promise at the Night of Tributes in Port Harcourt on Tuesday evening. The event that was organised by the Port Harcourt City One Love Family, to reflect, celebrate and eulogise the life of late Herbert Wigwe. Fubara described as double loss the death of Herbert Wigwe, first as an in-law, and second as a trail blazing son of the state who exhibited daring spirit known of Rivers people in pursuit of their dreams and became successful in his career with reckonable social impact. "I have come to understand something about life, those that God has favoured, blessed and truly cherish, He does not like them to stay too long on earth because he doesn't want them to get corrupted. "But the wicked ones, the cruel, that you ar...
Post a Comment
Read more