By: Felix Ikpotor
Warring cultists in Unyeada community of Andoni local government area of Rivers State have now surrendered their arms and ammunition and have embraced the peace process initiated by the authorities of the area.
Some of the gang leaders who spoke during the grand finale of the peace process in the community promised to join forces in moving the area forward.
They however appealed to the government and organisations to provide them with jobs to discourage them from going back to cultism.
An Island gang leader, Witness Albert said he wants peace to reign in the area.
“I need peace seriously and all my brothers in Island, we need peace too. If my boys make any problem after today, I will personally hand them over to the local government authorities. We beg the local government chairman to give us jobs because I know that it’s lack of job and hunger that made us to carry guns,” he said.
On his part, Vincent Lazarus Obadiah, a Greenland gang leader said, “we have repented and as it stands now, we the Greenlanders, Islanders have come to our senses, we are brothers and so no need for us to be fighting and killing each other. We beg the government and community to forgive us”.
Speaking at the occasion, the Okaan-Ama of Unyeada, Dr. Isreal Otuo said the event marked the end of the over two decades of destruction of lives and properties in the community.
Speaking through the chairman of Unyeada Divisional Council of Traditional Rulers, Erasmus Ngira, the community leader urged the repentant cultists to keep to terms of the agreement.
“My message to them is that they have been forgiven and they should not go back to their old ways. We have assured them of reintegration into the community and I believe that they, acknowledging the process that the king has taken will toe that same line as they have been forgiven”.
Also speaking, the chairman, Unyeada Kingdom Peace and Reconciliation Committee, Gogo Nathan expressed happiness with the process and called for forgiveness and love amongst the people.
“We should love one another. We should forgive each other and for the repentant youths, let’s encourage them to start a new life,” he said.
