States Has No Powers To Grant Amnesty To Murderers, Kidnappers’- FG

The Federal government has proclaimed amnesty granted militants by Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha. as not in order.

Therefore, has rejected the amnesty granted to 1000 repentant militants, cultists and agitators from the oil producing areas of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Local Governments of Imo State by the governor. 

The Federal government says that Okorocha had no powers to grant amnesty to people who had either murdered, robbed or kidnapped their victims.

Okorocha had in a bid to ease the siege on the residents of the two local governments, granted amnesty to some militants and cult members who were alledged to have kidnapped and murdered people including police officers. Some of the cultists is said to have as well raped women in the two local government areas.

Okorocha’s amnestycame after they had repented and surrendered some of their weapons of destruction. 

Before, Okorocha’s amnesty, the state police command had asked for military assistance following the level of heavy weapons, robbery, rape and kidnapping in the oil reach areas of the state. This was even as the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, yesterday held a mass for 10 of the former militants at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral after they had pledged not to go back to their old ways in the presence of their parents and priests. 

The 10 former cultists included Ikechukwu Obasi, Ngozi Ihezue, Goodluck Kalanwu, Innocent Uchegbu and Samuel Mbakwe Amadi. Others were Emmanuel Madu, Valentine Madu, Calistus Igbokwe, Obinwa Opara and Godson Chibunwanne. However, at the well-publicised event in the state, the militants were said to have handed over some of their arms including Ak-47 riffles, rocket launchers, pistols, charms, machetes, knives and axes, among others to the Okorocha’s administration, following the state government’s promise to grant them amnsty. 

Among those who witnessed the event included the state police commissioner, military officials, the state director of the Department of State Services, DSS as well as other security agencies. 

But, shortly after the incident, the Federal Government was said to have warned the state government on the alleged illegal action of granting of amnesty to cultists, kidnappers, militants and agitators asking it and other state governments to steer clear of such actions in future. 

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