Gov Wike inaugurates Rivers State amnesty programme c’tee 

In a major move to restore peace across all communities of Rivers State,  Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Friday  inaugurated the State Amnesty Programme Committee. 

Photo L-R: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike,  Sir Ken Chinda,  Special Adviser  (Amnesty)- Chairman, Lt Col.  Timothy Opurum- Nigerian Army- Member, Lt Cdr Segun Adebajo – Nigerian Navy (member) and Flt Lt Gabriel Folorunso Ayeyemi – Nigerian Airforce (member)  during  the  inauguration of the Rivers State Amnesty Programme Committee by the governor on Friday at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The committee has as members,  representatives  of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Services. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Amnesty,  Sir  Ken Chinda  is chairman. 

In his inauguration speech,  Governor Wike  charged the committee  to interface with different cult groups for the purpose of  retrieving arms from them.

The governor also charged the committee to work out modalities  to ensure the proper integration  of cultists  and  militants  who willingly  subscribe  to  the amnesty  programme. 

He warned the committee members  against promising repentant  cultists and militants  that the state government  will  pay for arms surrendered  in the course of  the  programme. 

He declared: “Anyone who  has surrendered  his arms and has followed  through the process laid out for the amnesty will be pardoned. Such a person  will not be prosecuted. 

“This committee has 60days to complete its assignment.  After the 60days, any cultist or militant who fails to subscribe  to  the  amnesty programme  will face the  full weight of the law”.

The governor  reiterated  that  the  amnesty programme  is not politically motivated,  pointing  out  that  it was designed to promote the security of all communities  in the state.

Responding on behalf of the committee members,  Chairman of the Committee,  Mr Ken Chinda assured the governor  that members  of  the  will work  in line with  the  terms of  reference outlined.

The members of the committee are: 

1. Sir Ken Chinda Special Adviser (Amnesty)- Chairman,

2. Lt Col.  Timothy Opurum – Nigerian Army- Member, 

3. Flt Lt Gabriel Folorunso Ayeyemi – Nigerian Airforce, 

4. Lt Cdr Segun Adebajo – Nigerian Navy – member, 

5. Mr Daniel Uzor – DSS – member, 

6. ACP Imo Sam Orok – Nigerian Police – member, and,

7. Dr. George Nweke – Permanent Secretary,  Special Services Bureau – Secretary.

Simeon Nwakaudu

Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media

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