The Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike, on Friday told persons who gave up their arms in the state’ amnesty programme that there will be ‘no cash for arms’.

Ex-militants and cultists surrendered their arms few days ago in a state-organised amnesty programme aimed at ending violence in the southern Nigeria State.

Governor Wike gave the government’s position at a meeting with the President and National Executives of Ijaw National Congress held at the state Government House in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

At the meeting the group canvassed for reintegration of repentant cultists and suspected criminals.

They had suggested that the government should set up a reintegration and rehabilitation plan for cultists and suspected criminals who had accepted the government’s amnesty programme offered by the president of the congress, Charles Harry.

The amnesty programme, which was set up by the government less than three months ago, has seen thousands of cultists and suspected criminals across various local government areas in the state, lay down their arms and accept pardon with a promise not to go back to their criminal lifestyles.

But one of the worries has been how to get these youths back to normal life in the society, an issue that was focused on at the meeting.

Mr Charles Harry, said: “We believe in the amnesty programme of the state government, but we think that it must of necessity follow the United Nations Declaration of DDR programmes which will not only disarm but will have a reintegration programme back to the society”.

Responding, the governor assured the congress that the government would develop a plan that would accommodate the reintegration of repentant cultists and suspected criminals.

“As regards the amnesty programme, your suggestion is very good. We can’t even debate about it. We will develop a plan for those who have surrounded their arms to find something doing to earn a living and be reintegrated back to the society.

“But one thing we will not do is to give cash for arms. No! If we do that, it will encourage others,” Governor Wike insisted.

The rehabilitation and reintegration programme of the state government for repentant cultists and suspected criminals is expected to start as soon as possible, the government has said.

An amnesty programme of the Federal Government in 2009 had offered financial support to persons that turned in their arms, something that some of the persons that responded to the River’s Amnesty Programme may have expected.