FINALLY, CULTISTS IN GOKANA HAVE AGREED TO DISARM

Cultists in  Gokana have agreed to surrender their arms to the Rivers State Amnesty Committee. Recall that for 3 times, the committee declined to grant amnesty on cultists in Gokana during the main amnesty programme last year because it was dissatisfied with the arms they surrendered.

Upon the declaration of special amnesty programme for the four Ogoni speaking Local Government Areas by Governor Nyesom Wike recently, the Committee again visited Gokana, but failed to reach an agreement due to lack of sincerity by the cultists. The told the Committee, 'we have no guns to submit, because we don't operate with guns". But last Tuesday, April 11, 2017, the Committee was able to get to the root of the matter and got the cultists to willingly comply.

The agreement was reached after the  Committee educated them on the need for peace in Ogoni land and thereafter successfully brokered peace in some  warring Communities in Gokana Local Government Areas; between BOMU and LEWE Communities. Both communities were engulfed in fierce battle arising from dispute between tow indigenes who were doing illegal oil refining.

It also sued for peace between DEKEN and DEEYOR communities, pending the determination of a court case over a disputed parcel of Land.

The Committee will however, visit NWEOL community tomorrow, Thursday April 13, 2017  to settle the internal crisis that recently hit that community as a result of chieftaincy tussle and cult related battles.

Consequently, Chairman of Rivers State Amnesty Implementation Committee and Special Adviser to Governor Nyesom Wike on Amnesty Programme, Ken Chinda has announced that disarmament exercise will take place as follows:

Eleme LGA, Tuesday April 18,2017

Gokana LGA, Wednesday April 19, 2017

Tai LGA, Thursday April 20, 2017 all at the various Council Secretariats.

Khana LGA has been done on Friday April 07, 2017 also at the Council Secretariat.