TheCable

The Ebonyi government has announced N2 million as reward for anyone with useful information that will lead to the arrest of “bandits terrorising the state”.

Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, announced this on Friday, during an inter-denominational prayer summit held in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Umahi also said the state will grant “comprehensive amnesty” to “repentant bandits and terrorists”.

“I’m offering a comprehensive amnesty for repentant bandits and terrorists. Do not be part of agitation groups; do not be part of killings,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“Anywhere you are and you are an Ebonyi man, whether in the west or south-east, I am ready to stop everything to empower you. We are ready to empower our youths.”

The governor also said he believes in Nigeria, insisting that he doesn’t support calls for the establishment of Biafra.

“As the father of Ebonyi, I want to make it clear that we will never be in Biafra; we will not. We will not go back to second slavery. We want to belong to Nigeria. We want to belong to fair and equitable Nigeria,” he said.

“And let me make it clear, zoning or no zoning, party or no party, south-east must not be schemed out of the affairs of this country. What is good for other regions should be good for the south-east.

“Let south-east properly integrate in the affairs of this nation. We are nation-builders; we have investments in every part of this country. We should not be feared, but people use hate speeches to keep us down. People should not be afraid of us. We will work with God to restore the peace of this nation.

“We will work with the people for love and unity of this country. Give us a chance, treat us fairly for we have sacrificed a lot to the building of this nation.”