Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has given armed youths in coastal communities, twenty-one days to surrender their arms, and be included in the Federal Government amnesty programme. TVC’s Ayodeji Moradeyo reports that the state government came up with the plan to clear the coastal communities of arms, after securing the release of six students of Igbonla Model College, Epe, Lagos, kidnapped by armed youths from the State.
This development prompted the State Government to initiate extension of the Amnesty programme to armed youths in the State.
At the official commencement of the extension of amnesty programme to armed youths, held at the International Culture and Events Centre, popularly called the Dome in Akure, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu implored the youths to
take advantage of it in the interest of peace in the State.
Governor Akeredolu urged them to lay down their arms at five designated centres in Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas of the State.
In his speech, the Commander of 32 Artillery Brigade of Nigerian Army, Akure, Brigadier-General James Ataguba urged the armed youths to embrace peace.
Earlier, the Chairman of State amnesty committee and Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi stressed that accepting the offer will bring economic boom and commercial prosperity to the coastal communities.
Some militants who attended the Amnesty programme, expressed readiness to lay down their arms.
Specifically, members of the Niger Delta Avengers Sea Wolves urged the State government to ensure that the Amnesty programme is not hijacked by politicians.
The armed youths have twenty-one days to lay down their arms at five collection centres in Igbokoda, Igbekebo, Arogbo, Ugbonla and Ajapa.
