Okpebholo Offers Amnesty To Cultists, Illegal Arms Possessors

The Edo State government has offered an amnesty window for cult members in the state and urged them to drop arms and ammunition in their possession, especially in the troubled communities of Obagie, Oke-Oroma, and Amagba, as he expressed his determination to develop the proposed new city.

In a determined move to end cultism in the state, Governor Monday Okpebholo met with leaders of Obagie, Oke-Oroma, and Amagba communities to discuss land and insecurity concerns in Benin City.

The governor stated that 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 crime, including kidnapping.

He added that a major component of the amnesty programme for such youths would include a skills acquisition and empowerment programme so that they can be useful to themselves and society in the long run.

He further assured the visiting community leaders of his support for bringing 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, Aroma, 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.”

On the development of LOT ‘A’ in the new city plan, the governor said that 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.

The governor also added that the government was ready to regularise land properties in the affected areas so that property owners could have their lands back in other LOTS.

He however called on property owners in the state to register their properties with Edo Geographical Information System. “Survey your land and register them with Edo GIS so that you can collect your land titles.”

In their reaction, the communities 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.

Pa Michael Omoruyi, Pa Abel Emokpae and Ebo Amagba spoke respectively for Obagie, Oke-Oroma and Amagba communities.

It will be recalled that the Edo State government under former Governor Godwin Obaseki had serially engaged the communities in violent confrontations, which the communities described as regrettable because of the loss of lives and properties.

They commended Governor Okpebholo for setting up the committee to engage them, saying it was the first time that the state government was interfacing with them since 2017 when their lands were first acquired by the government.

Governor Okpebholo set up the Committee on Land Resolution in the state a few weeks ago, with Dr Tony Ikpasaja as chairman and Dr Abdulwasiu Oyakhire as secretary.

Other members of the committee include the state surveyor general, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning, a state counsel from the Ministry of Justice, and Dr Felix Iyalomhen from the office of the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly.