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Friday, April 27, 2012

Insecurity: Okorocha pledges N1m to information volunteers


OWERRI— Following the high crime wave in Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha, yesterday announced donation of N1 million to anybody who volunteered useful information that could lead to the discovery of criminal hideouts and arrest of kidnappers and armed robbers in the state.
Governor Okorocha made the promise at a stakeholders forum.

The governor said he was embarrassed by the security situation in the state, and also announced that his administration will pay N.1 million to anybody who returned illegal firearm to security agencies.
“I am assuring everybody that willful return of pistols and AK 47 rifle would attract N50,000 and N200,000 respectively. This measure was part of government’s efforts to stem the tempo of youith involvement in serious crimes,” the governor said.

Okorocha said he would deposit N100 million in a commercial bank to kick-start the reward programme, stressing that classified information would be thoroughly investigated and treated confidentially.
He also decried  the rot going on in the traditional institution in the state, pointing out that a judicial panel of inquiry would soon be instituted to critically look into the records of serving royal fathers, with a view to flushing out those with questionable antecedents.
Speaking at the forum, Imo State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Benjamin Ahanonu Njemanze, appealed to Governor Rochas Okorocha to gear his efforts towards building industries that would absorb the teeming unemployed youths in the state.
“Government should think of building industries that will absorb our teeming unemployed youths instead of hotels. The bulk of the serious crimes the state is experiencing stems largely from unemployment,” the Chief Judge reasoned.

He recalled that his several jail delivery sessions in federal prisons, Owerri, revealed that a good number of those in jailed said they would not have gone into crime if they had meaningful means of livelihood.
He pleaded:  “The prison is extremely congested. It now houses a number of persons that is far above the designed capacity of about 500. Establishment of industries will do the magic instead of the hotels your administration is planning.”

Source: Vanguardnews

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