22,430 cultists have surrendered arms in Rivers, says Wike

At least 22,430 cultists have surrendered and returned 911 assorted arms to the Rivers state amnesty committee, Nyesom Wike, governor of the state, has said.

He made this known on Monday at a town hall meeting and accountability forum in Port Harcourt to mark his administration’s second anniversary.

He said the amnesty programme has reduced cult related violence and other criminal activities in the state.

He also said the programme recovered “7,661 assorted ammunitions as well as 147 explosives” by the repentant cultists.

Wike said the state government provided “over 150 patrol vans to the security agencies, including some boats” handed over to the Nigerian navy, to fight crime in the state.

According to him, his administration had in the last two years “made unprecedented investments in infrastructure, which had led to economic boom”.

The governor further said that “13 General Hospitals in 13 local government areas were undergoing reconstruction with the completed ones awaiting furnishing and inauguration”.

“We are also completing the regional hospitals started by the immediate past administration, located in Etche and Degema councils to serve as referral centres for secondary and tertiary health care,” he said.

He said the government released “over four million US dollars” to equip and upgrade the Braithwait Memorial Hospital to international standard” while also “supporting the growth of indigenous entrepreneurs through contracts”.

Wike further said that his administration had invested “over N145 billion” on the construction of roads, bridges, pedestrian walkways and underground drainage systems while “300 primary schools were being refurbished and equipped across the state”.