Repentant cultists on Tuesday surrendered 911 arms, including AK-47 rifles and pump action guns, to the Rivers State Government in the just-concluded Amnesty Programme declared by the state.
Also, the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has placed a ban on vigilante groups in the state after receiving a report that some of their members belonged to various cult groups.
The cultists also surrendered 7,369 ammunition through the Chairman of the State Amnesty Committee, Mr. Kenneth Chinda, at the presentation of the committee’s report at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Speaking shortly after taking delivery of the cache of arms, charms and ammunition, Wike directed security agencies to go after unrepentant cultists, kidnappers and armed robbers in the state.
The governor pointed out that with the submission of the state amnesty report, the time for reprieve for cultists and other violent persons was over.
He called on the people of the state not to politicise crime and issues bordering on security, maintaining that the level of crime in the state had reduced.
On the ban on vigilante group, the governor stated that those seeking to form vigilante groups should register with the state government before creating any.
Wike said, “A lot of people thought the state amnesty programme was a political game. Take a look at the number of AK-47 rifles surrendered. If 70 AK-47 rifles are in the wrong hands in this state, you will know that there is trouble.
“That you and I can sleep very well today is worth commending. I direct security agencies to go after those that have refused to surrender their weapons because the time for amnesty is over. We should not politicise crime or say that it is a party matter.”
(Punch)
