Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has asked members of the various cults in the state to renounce their membership in exchange for amnesty from the state government.
The governor extended the same olive branch to those in possession of illegal arms and ammunition, charging them to surrender such weapons to the authorities.
Gov. Okpebholo made this known while meeting with the leaders of Obagie, Oke-Oroma, and Amagba communities over land and insecurity concerns in Benin City.
Reinstating his administration’s resolve to develop the proposed new city around the communities, the governor said a technical committee will soon be announced to handle the restitution of cult members and criminally-minded youths in a bid to reduce the menace of violent crime, including kidnapping, in the state.
A major component of the amnesty programme for such youths will include skills acquisition and empowerment programmes in order to make them useful to themselves and the society in the long run, said Gov. Okpebholo.
He further assured the visiting community leaders of his support to bring about lasting peace in their communities, especially as the state government is embarking on the development of the new city in their domain.
According to him, peace will be restored to all restive communities in the state, including Obagie, Oke-Oroma and Amagba in Benin City.
He, however, assured that the state government was ready to listen to the victims of demolition by the immediate-past administration.
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“Those whose properties were affected should see the committee on land resolution with their papers,” the governor said.
On the development of LOT ‘A’ in the new city plan, Gov. Okpebholo said that the government will look around and protect the traditional sites in the process of developing the new town, while those in LOT ‘B’ can come forward with their documents before the committee once the process commences.
The governor also added that the state government is ready to carry out a regularization of land properties in the affected areas so that property owners could have their lands backed in other lots.
He, however, called on property owners in the state to register their properties with the Edo State Geographical Information System.
In their reaction, the community leaders assured the governor of their total support, especially in the development of the LOT ‘A’ in the new city and in his drive to improve security in their communities.
