BAYELSA PLANS AMNESTY FOR CULT MEMBERS

The administration of Governor Seriake Dickson said it was working out modalities to grant amnesty to cultists willing to renounce their membership of cult groups in Bayelsa State.

The government said cultists genuinely willing to shun cultism should register their names and offer other relevant information about themselves at the office of the Senior Special Assistant on Civil Society.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to the governor, Daniel Iworiso- Markson, the proposed amnesty also applies to cultists in tertiary institutions.

The statement indicated that the registration exercise would last between March 20 and April 5, excluding weekends. Cult-related activities have generated anxiety among residents of the state capital, Yenagoa, and the Niger Delta University, NDU, Amassoma, as no fewer than 20 youths have been killed in the last three months.

About three weeks ago, a first year student of Delta State University, Abraka, was butchered by a rival group at Agudama- Epie, Yenagoa.

The victim simply identified as Sunny was said to have visited Yenagoa from school that weekend to collect his feeding allowance from his mother.

The statement issued by the CPS reads in part: “Government is therefore, calling on cult members to take advantage of this window of opportunity created to turn a new leaf and do something meaningful with their lives.

“To demonstrate government’s commitment to this project, His Excellency, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State will meet with all repentant cultists at a later date to discuss and arrange for proper security of their lives as well as ways to engage and empower them.

“As part of a genuine plan to carry every dedicated and law-abiding youth along in its new youth empowerment strategy, through training and engagement programmes, the Bayelsa State Government, under the auspices of the office of the Special Adviser on Security and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Civil Society is proposing amnesty for prospective renounced cult members in the state.”

Source: National Mirror