Abia Wants Salary For Repentant Kidnappers Taken Over By FG

UMUAHIA - The Abia House of Assembly has appealed to the Federal Government to take over the payment of the allowances of repentant kidnappers from the State Government.

Mr. Asoforo Okere, the Deputy Speaker of the house, made the appeal at the assembly’s monthly briefing in Umuahia.

He said the call became necessary because the burden of taking care of them was becoming too much for Abia Government to bear.

Okere noted that after compelling the former Kidnappers to drop their weapons, the Federal Government left Abia Government to bear the welfare of the group.

“It is proper that Federal Government come to the aid of Abia Government in this matter the way it has been taking care of ex-militants from the Niger Delta for equity and fair play.

“During the heydays of kidnapping, the state government entered into agreement with these boys, to ensure the security of everybody, including other Nigerians.

“It is proper that the Federal Government takes over at this stage,’’ he said.

Okere also advised states in the northern part of the country to emulate Abia by taking the lead to commence peaceful and secret pact with members of Boko Haram to end the insurgency.

The deputy speaker said that the lawmakers passed two bills into law and adopted several resolutions.

“The bills are; 2012 Abia State Local Government Appropriation bye-law of N27.9 billion and Abia State Business Premises Amendment Law.

He said that the resolutions adopted include distortion of Ogurube master plans, condemnation of illegal excavation of sand at Leru community, and rainstorm at Umuaku Isuochi.

Okere, who noted incessant cases of child trafficking in some parts of the state, called on security agencies to assist in putting a stop to the menace.

“Abia house has passed a law making it capital offence for child trafficking and yet the act is still taking place.
“I do not know if we need to carry arms as lawmakers to fight this crime.

“My humble appeal is for security agencies to be more committed in helping the state out of this whole problem,’’ he said.