The amnesty program of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday received a major boost as youths from Kwande local government area of the state surrendered assorted automatic rifles.
Speaking at the display of the arms at the Benue Peoples House when the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone Four, Mr. Yahaya Garba Ardo, visited him, Governor Ortom expressed delight that the program was yielding positive results.
He explained that it had to be extended at the request of a notorious gangster, Mr. Terwase Akwaza, alias Ghana, who surrendered at the end of August when the program would have expired and requested that he would persuade some of his friends in the underworld to also embrace the amnesty.
“If we can secure lives and property in the state, my plan is to industrialize the state; create massive jobs, wealth, and opportunities through micro, small and medium scale enterprises as well as commercial activities so that investment would thrive,” the Governor stated.
“I assure the police and other security agencies in the state of our support through the provision of logistics in order to enable them perform maximally.”
According to Governor Ortom, his administration would wield the big stick at the expiration of the amnesty period at the end of September, 2015 and urged law enforcement agencies to brace up for the challenge.
He commended the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, for the renewed vigor to fight crime and the state police commissioner for the recent victories recorded against criminals.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Ardo requested assistance from the state government and major stakeholders including traditional, religious, and community leaders in intelligence gathering even as he lauded the IG of Police for taking measures to improve the welfare of the force.
Special Adviser on Security, Colonel Edwin Jando (rtd) expressed excitement at the development saying the surrendered arms were the ones the committee had been expecting as they were all automatic weapons.
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