No regrets granting amnesty to ‘criminals’, says Rivers govt

The Rivers state government says it has no regrets initiating amnesty programme for repentant cultists and criminals in the state.

Addressing reporters in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Ipalibo Banigo, deputy governor, said the programme was in line with the peace initiative of the state government.

Some analysts had described it as a measure to shield supporters of the government, challenging the current administration to make public, arms recovered from the repentant criminals, in order to boost confidence in the process.

Banigo, however, said that the state government would not give cash to those enlisting in the programme, adding that the essence of the programme is to ensure that the state becomes peaceful and safe for both residents and investors.

“We have no plan to give cash to anybody; our intention is to provide sustainable rehabilitation for them,” she said.

“To say that steps to put repentant criminals on the right path is wrong, means a clear case of lack of understanding of the dynamics of peace building.”

The deputy governor said the government was already implementing an economic empowerment programme aimed at empowering Rivers youth for self-reliance.

Banigo said that the government had shown reasonable concern toward stamping out cultism, crime and violence in the state.

“Shortly after being sworn-in, Gov. Nyesom Wike signed into law the Rivers state kidnap prohibition amendment law 2015 and led security agents to demolish some criminal hideouts in the state,” she said.