Okpebholo mulls amnesty for cultists, illegal arm owners

By Jethro Ibileke

Governor Monday Okpebholo has dangled a window of restitution for cult members and those in possession of illegal arms and ammunition in the State who are ready to embrace his amnesty programme.

The Governor also urged those holding arms and ammunition illegally to surrender them to authorities in exchange for freedom from prosecution.

He announced this on Tuesday, in Benin, the state capital, while meeting with the leaders of Obagie, Oke-Oroma, and Amagba communities over land and insecurity concerns.

Okpebholo who restated his administration’s resolve to develop the proposed new city around the communities, said a technical committee will soon be set up to handle the restitution of cult members and criminally-minded youths in a bid to reduce the menace of violent crime including kidnapping.

According to him, a major component of the amnesty programme for such youths will include skills acquisition and empowerment programme in order to make them useful to themselves and to the society on the long run.

He further assured the visiting community leaders of his support to bring about lasting peace in their communities, especially as government embarks on the development of the new city in their domain.

He noted that peace will be restored to all restive communities in the State, including Obagie, Oke-oroma and Amagba in Benin city.

He, however, assured that government was ready to listen to the victims of demolition by the immediate-past administration, urging them to see the Committee on Land Resolution with their papers.