We Won't Pay For Returned Arms, Wike Tells Cultists, Criminals

In a major move to restore peace across all communities of Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike, at the weekend, warned cultists and criminals who embrace the Amnesty Programme of his administration that there would be no cash compensation for any arms returned.
Wike said this while inaugurating the state Amnesty implementation committee in Port Harcourt.
The committee has as members, representatives of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Services, with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Amnesty, Sir Ken Chinda as chairman.
The governor charged the committee to interface with different cult groups for the purpose of retrieving arms from them, advising the team 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 60 days 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 was 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, its Chairman,  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: Sir Ken Chinda, chairman; Lt-Col. Timothy Opurum of the Nigerian Army, member; Flt-Lt Gabriel Folorunso Ayeyemi of the Nigerian Air Force, member; Lt-Cdr Segun Adebajo of the Nigerian Navy, member; Mr Daniel Uzor of the DSS, member; ACP Imo Sam Orok of the Nigerian Police, member; while Permanent Secretary, Special Services Bureau, Dr. George Nweke, would serve as secretary.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has approved the constitution of the State Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, listed the committee as including Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Emma Aguma as chairman; Prof Israel N. E. Worugji and Dr. Bob Yellow, as members.
Others members are Venerable Alex Usifo, Dr Ngozi Ordu, Prof John Ikimalo, Hon Glory Chukwu, and Barr  Alu Long-John, while the director of Public Prosecutions, Rivers State, is to act as secretary.