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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.

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