FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Edo State government has given a window of restitution for cult members to renounce cultism and turn a new leaf, while those in possession of illegal arms and ammunition surrender them to the authorities in exchange for amnesty.
Governor Monday Okpebholo made this known on Wednesday during a meeting with leaders of Obagie, Oke-Oroma and Amagba communities over land and security concerns in Benin.
While restating his administration’s resolve to develop the proposed new city around the communities, he said a technical committee would soon be announced to handle the restitution of cult members and criminally minded youths, in a bid to reduce the menace of violent crimes, including kidnapping.
A major component of the amnesty programme for such youths will include skills acquisition and empowerment programme so that they can be useful to themselves and the society in the long run.
He assured the visiting community leaders of his support to bring lasting peace to their communities, especially as government embarks on the development of a new city in their domain.
According to him, peace will be restored to all restive communities in the state.
He also assured that government is ready to listen to the victims of demolition carried out by the immediate past administration.
On the development of LOT ‘A’ in the new city plan, the governor said government would look around and protect traditional sites in the process of developing the new town, while those in LOT ‘B’ could come forward with their documents to the committee once the process commences.
The governor also added that government is ready to carry out a regularisation of landed properties in the affected areas so that owners could have their lands back in other LOTS.
He, however, called on property owners to register their properties with the Edo Geographical Information System.
In their reaction, the community leaders assured Okpebholo of their total support, especially in the development of LOT ‘A’ in the new city and in his drive to improve the security of their communities.
They commended Governor Okpebholo for setting up the committee to engage them, saying it was the first time that the state government is interfacing with them since 2017 when their lands were first acquired by government.
