Date Published: 11/20/09

Amaechi warns ex-militants, says its now fire for fire

* Donates security vehicles to police, okays prosecution of UNIPORT attackers

FOR Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, it is from now on, fire for fire for any ex-militant who ruptures the peace the state is currently enjoying in the wake of President Umaru Yar'Adua's amnesty initiative which lapsed on October 4, 2009.

To this end, government has categorically stated that any ex-militant that engages in crime will face the wrath of the law as the post-amnesty programme has no room for criminality.

Governor Amaechi stated this on Friday when he addressed the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) at Choba over the recent violent demonstration of ex-militants on the university campus also announced government's donation of over 20 security vehicles to the police in the state.

Amaechi, who was however, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mr Magnus Abe, said the havoc caused by the ex-militants on the institution is totally unacceptable and would not be tolerated by the state government.

The governor explained that the amnesty period elapsed on October 4, 2009, and therefore raping, looting and destruction of people’s properties, which are not covered by the amnesty programme, attract punishment.

He restated the state government’s commitment to the rule of law and assured that anybody who commits crime would face the wrath of the law because the state government would not allow a reoccurrence of the criminality.

Amaechi said the ex-militants were brought to the Aluu camp to be re-orientated and rehabilitated to make them better people but noted that under the circumstance it is wrong to allow them stay near the institution.

The governor used the opportunity to convey the deep concern of the government and good people of Rivers state to the university community over the incident and appealed to the victims to put themselves together while the victims of rape were to be given proper medical attention.

He stated that the federal government has been fully briefed on the issue, emphasizing that the non-payment of their allowance should not have attracted the violence they perpetrated on the school community.

He, therefore, urged the Vice Chancellor of the institution to reassure members of the school community that the incident would not re-occur and advised them to go back to work.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Uniport Prof. Don Baridam, thanked the state government for the concern they have shown towards the school and the reassurance of adequate security measures.

Prof. Baridam said few weeks after the murder of the school’s Chief Security Officer and the violence perpetrated by the ex-militants, a state of fear has now enveloped the institution, leading to workers absenting themselves from work for fear of their lives.

The Vice Chancellor said the ex-militants raped 12 girls, looted properties and vandalized others, emphasizing that the solution to the problem remains the relocation of the camp.

He remarked that the school environment is where people come from different parts of the world to undertake academic programme and urged the state government to do something quickly to save the situation before the ex-militants indoctrinate the students’ population.

In the mean time, the state government has donated over twenty security vehicles with communication gadgets to the State Police Command.

Presenting the vehicles to the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bala Hassan in Port Harcourt, Abe said the donation was in fulfillment of the state government’s promise to assist the police carry out their security assignments.

Abe said the twenty vehicles were the first consignments of such vehicles that are to be donated to the police, and hoped that the vehicles will assist them meet their many security challenges.

The SSG explained that the donation of the vehicles were as a result of the request made by the police, adding that requests made by other security agencies were being addressed.

He stated that the vehicles are to be used for patrol within this period, especially the yuletide season, stressing that there will be so many activities going on in the state.

Receiving the keys to the vehicles, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bala Hassan thanked the state government in its efforts to assist the police fight crime, assuring that the people of Rivers State will sleep well and safe.

Assuring that the police in the state was prepared to fight crime, Mr Hassan warned against anyone using the ex-militant ID cards to commit crime, saying that those arrested will be prosecuted.

The Commissioner said so far eleven people have been arrested for impersonating ex-militants during the saga at the University of Port Harcourt early in the week, noting that those arrested have been charged to court.