The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, is offering amnesty to cultists and those in possession of illegal arms.
Governor Okpebholo said this on Tuesday while meeting with the leaders of Obagie, Oke-Oroma, and Amagba communities over land and insecurity concerns in Benin City.
In a statement by Fred Itua, his Chief Press Secretary, the governor called on them to surrender to authorities in exchange for the amnesty.
While 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.
The governor said a major component of the amnesty programme for such youths will include skills acquisition and empowerment programmes to make them useful to themselves and society in the long run.
He assured the visiting community leaders of his support to bring about lasting peace in their communities, especially as the government embarks 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 government was ready to listen to the victims of demolition by the immediate-past administration.
“Those whose properties were affected should see the Committee on Land Resolution with their papers,” he said.
On the development of LOT ‘A’ in the new city plan, the governor 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 to the committee once the process commences.
Governor Okpebholo also added that the government was 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 Geographical Information System.
“Survey your land and register it with Edo GIS so that you can collect your land titles,” the governor said.
In their reaction, the community 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 the security of their communities.
