Mr Ken Chinda, the Chairman, Rivers State Amnesty Programme, on Tuesday appealed to traditional rulers in Ogoni Land to expose criminals and cultists in their areas.
Chinda made the appeal while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt following the state’s amnesty offer to repentant criminals and cultists from Ogoni area, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports.
He said that the ongoing amnesty would not be “very successful’’ without the support of traditional rulers in the region.
According to him, the failure of some traditional rulers to stand against criminality and violence has contributed to the growth of insecurity in the area.
“We want our traditional rulers to be partners in this exercise, they lead the communities, they are aware of everyone’s activities.
“The return of peace to Ogoni communities should be a thing of joy to the traditional rulers; so they need to be fully in support of this programme,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Gov. Nyesom Wike-led administration had recently approved state pardon for all repentant criminals and cultists in Ogoni Land.
The decision for a state pardon followed heightened insecurity in several communities in Ogoni area in the last few months.
NAN further reports that about six months ago, the government similarly granted amnesty to some repentant criminals and cultists in other parts of the state.
Meanwhile, the repentant cultists, who enlisted in the previous exercise, had continued to demand the implementation of the programmes that accompany the offer.