By Ben Duru, Correspondent, Umuahia
“We are sorry, we have been doing this for
long, but we say we are sorry. We have
decided to come out and we want to assure
that there will be no more kidnapping in
Abia State.”
This was the apology tendered by the
deputy leader of a group of Abia-based
kidnappers, Steven John, who came to
Government House, Umuahia in acceptance
of the amnesty granted by the government
for them to lay down their arms.
John was brought to the Executive
Chambers of Government House by the
Commandant of the Nigerian Security and
Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Nathaniel Ubong,
alongside 11 other members of the gang.
It is expected that about 300 repentant
kidnappers from nine communities will lay
down their weapons from oil rich Ukwa
West Local Government areas along
beginning next week.
Governor Theodore Orji had earlier in the
week announced the granting of amnesty
to all the kidnap gangs as well as
perpetrators of violent crime in the state
with a promise that they would be queued
into the package prepared by the Federal
Government for militants in the other Niger
Delta States.
The repentant second in command
explained that they were vexed by the
abject deprivation bedeviling the people of
their communities in spite of been oil-
producing communities and decided to take
up arms against the society.
According to him the lack of good roads,
health care facilities, potable water and
general well-being of the people of the oil
rich areas were responsible for the spate of
kidnappings witnessed in and around the
state, but assured that with the amnesty, it
was all over.
“We promise that the whole crime that has
been witnessed in the state will come to a
stop and there will be peace again in the
state.”
Governor Orji who received the repentant
groups addressed as ‘Umuoma’ insisted that
the spate of kidnappings had become
embarrassing and led to socio-economic
stagnation as investors would not come
and those available were leaving the state
in droves.
He continued that all efforts in the past to
curtail the incident proved abortive until a
window of opening came through the
group who initiated the peace move on the
condition that they are queued into the
larger Federal Government programme in
some of the Niger Delta states.

This is a travesty, and anyone who goes along with this should be really ashamed of themselves.
Kidnapping is a heinous crime that inflicts severe trauma on the victims and their families. Some of the victims may never be the same again. Many people have parted with their life savings to free their kidnapped relatives and yet you reward these brigands with money?

The Governor should be ashamed of himself. What plans are there then to refund the ransom monies paid out to the criminals? How the hell can you justify rewarding such an odious crime?

Abagworo:

He continued that all efforts in the past to
curtail the incident proved abortive until a
window of opening came through the
group who initiated the peace move on the
condition that they are queued into the
larger Federal Government programme in
some of the Niger Delta states.

So we can just break the law wilfully and expect amnesty from the government? I think this amnesty joke has gone too far,eroding the function of law and order.

an agrieved person has the right to act in his own way and if the govt has wake up from her slumber, it is a welcome development as long as all parties will keep to their promises.
the most important thing here will be peace returning to the ppl who deserve it.

time to kidnap, ra-pe and rob chidchris and his family - will plead for amnesty later

Governor Theodore Orji had earlier in the
week announced the granting of amnesty
to all the kidnap gangs as well as
perpetrators of violent crime in the state
with a promise that they would be queued
into the package prepared by the Federal
Government for militants in the other Niger
Delta States.
The repentant second in command
explained that they were vexed by the
abject deprivation bedeviling the people of
their communities in spite of been oil-
producing communities and decided to take
up arms against the society.
According to him the lack of good roads,
health care facilities, potable water and
general well-being of the people of the oil
rich areas were responsible for the spate of
kidnappings witnessed in and around the
state, but assured that with the amnesty, it
was all over.

just goes to shw that the only thing people like this orji learnt in school was to copy without understanding


disgraceful


welcome to nigeria - where theft ra-pe murder etal pay handsomely.

And most likely from Ngwaland.

WTF; they should be decieved into the amnesty and rounded up afterwards for the deserving punishment. You cannot eat your cake and have it.

EzeUche:

And most likely from Ngwaland.

mekusxxx:

WTF; they should be decieved into the amnesty and rounded up afterwards for the deserving punishment. You cannot eat your cake and have it.

in abia state you can lol

oyb:

time to kidnap, ra-pe and rob chidchris and his family - will plead for amnesty later

just goes to shw that the only thing people like this orji learnt in school was to copy without understanding
disgraceful
welcome to nigeria - where theft ra-pe murder etal pay handsomely.

tisk tisk tisk I remember the past article that said so called Repentant militants were angry they didnt recieve their allowance and went to the near by uni and started to rape female students.

Crazy

So since criminals can be forgiven why is the EFCC going after Ibori and co? Bode George, Alams, Ogbulafor, Igbnedion, Ibori are all forgiven.

only in Nigeria- can this shiot happen. nonsense- paying kidnappers not to kidnap. wtf