Omehia reads riot act to cultists
Rejis Anukwuoji • Thursday, Aug 9, 2007
Following three days of indiscriminate shooting in parts of Port Harcourt and its environs by youths suspected to be criminal elements, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia has warned that henceforth anyone that engages in use of firearms, kidnapping, cultism and all activities inimical to the development of the state would be dealt with decisively.

Governor Omehia who stated this yesterday in a brief broadcast at the inaugural session of the State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Port Harcourt, said the State Government can no longer fold its hands in the name of making peace and watch while misdirected elements continue to humiliate innocent law-abiding citizens of the state.

Sir Omehia said the government has a responsibility to protect the lives and property of citizens from random acts of violence, such as the type residents of Port Harcourt have witnessed in the past three days.

“The State Government cannot allow the current situation in which criminal elements roam the streets of Port Harcourt with guns, knives and dangerous weapons to intimidate and humiliate other free citizens of the state’, the Governor stated.

He explained that what was happening in the state was not for freedom fighters, neither was it for people fighting for the emancipation of the Niger Delta or Rivers State, adding that the scenario was unacceptable by the government and people of Rivers State.

The State Chief Executive used the occasion to advice parents to caution their children, wards and relations to desist from such acts before harm is done to them by the security agencies as the government would not watch them destabilize the stability of the present government.

The governor said on assumption of office he stated that those who were misdirected would be pardoned if they repented, as government was ready to rehabilitate them and fund their economic well-being to enable them re-integrate into society.

Sir Omehia said what had been interested since Monday showed a deliberate act by the people who were not willing to see the progress and success of the present state government.

is he reading riot act , they are fimiliar with those boys ,their services has been employed in the past,omehia should stop wasting time and use the intel at his security agencies "s disposal and clamp down on these boys.mr governor should come with the holds barred and apply a radical stratergy, my brother a stitch in time saves nine