Criminals making efforts to key into Amnesty Programme - Rivers State Govt

The Rivers State Government says some criminals have started making efforts to key into the amnesty programme offer by the state governor, Nyesom Wike.

Speaking when he appeared on a radio programme monitored in Port Harcourt, the State Commissioner for information and communication, Austin Tam-Gorge said the special adviser to the governor on Amnesty had been receiving calls from those he described as hardened criminals who had promised to lay down their arms and embrace the amnesty offer.

The commissioner also disclosed that a rehabilitation scheme will be made available for the repentant criminals to integrate them into the society.

Tam-George also noted that the amnesty offer had a limited period, stressing that those who refused to embrace the offer would have themselves to blame.

“As soon as we have properly vetted them and go through the process of screening, there will be a rehabilitation scheme.

“Those who forsake their ways are going to benefit from the amnesty programme. They should know that it is not going to last forever. Those who are interested should act very fast so they can benefit.

“Cultists who belong to DeyBam, DeyWell or whatever from the Ahaoda area, the Etche area, the Abua-Odual and Omoku area have contacted the amnesty office already. So, they should very fast and embrace this offer because the Governor has continually said those who engage in criminality will have no hiding place”, he said.