Repentant Bandits In Ebonyi To Get Amnesty

• “The truth is that these bandits and hoodlums are not totally outsiders”

Bandits and other criminals in Ebonyi state who are contrite and willing to repent and surrender their weapons will be offered amnesty, the state government has said.

Uchenna Orji, the state commissioner for information and orientation, stated this on Friday.

Stakeholders have differed on the propriety or otherwise of negotiating with bandits or if they should be granted amnesty.

In February, President Muhammadu Buhari said his government would not grant amnesty to criminals, adding that it will continue to deal with insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals who constitute a threat.

According to NAN, Orji, however, said Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, will use any legitimate means to see to the protection of lives and property of residents of the state.

He said repentant criminals will be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society, noting that they are part and they parcel of the society.

“The governor’s take is that of amnesty and offering the olive branch to them,” Orji said.

“So, if they can surrender and lay down their arms, government is ready to get them profiled, rehabilitated and engaged in life transforming empowerment programmes.

“The EndSARS N3 billion empowerment programme is not only for those who were involved in the protest; it is also for idle youths and women.

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“If this category of people can remember God, humanity and the wonderful strides, selfless and passionate work of our governor, I can tell you that he will develop a programme that will give an immediate intervention.”

The commissioner further said the security meetings convened recently by the governor were designed to find solution to the challenges affecting the state.

“The engagement is also aimed at enhancing effective policing of our communities in order to ensure timely alert about security threats and breaches to relevant agencies,” he said.

“The truth is that these bandits and hoodlums are not totally outsiders.

“From the history of those already arrested, we have a lot of engagement to do with some of our youths, who have been involved in banditry in the state.”