By Jimitota Onoyume
PORTHARCOURT— FORMER Militants, who just graduated from the Rivers State skills acquisition programme  being handled by the Rivers State Social Rehabilitation Committee, SRC, have been told to be law abiding  and make good use of the opportunities offered them by the state government through the rehabilitation programme.

Chairman of the rehabilitation committee, Chief Albert Horsefall, who gave the charge,  said they would not be covered by  the government amnesty programm  if they involve themselves in crime.

He condemned attempt by some of the graduands to abduct some members of his committee, adding “the graduands should go to the Special Business Unit set up  for them to work as there is no free money to be shared to them.”

”The SRC has, therefore, directed law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with those, who rather than seize the opportunity provided by the  Rivers State government to rehabilitate and make themselves useful citizens, have now chosen to thread their inglorious past.

“We condemned in strong terms, the action of some of the graduands, who attempted to abduct a member of the SRC, Mr Sampson Egop, in addition to harassing and molesting the Secretary of the committee, Chinda  Charles, who both lost handset and money to the unruly graduands, while they were being counseled by the duo. There is no free money for anybody  graduands,” he added.

“Anyone who breaks the law would be dealt with according to the law.Amnesty does not deal with post_amnesty crime.”

“Some of these boys want to continue extortion and robbery. No matter the training, they will never change. We have done everything to change them, but they still want to continue with criminality. Let them know that the long arms of law will soon catch up with them,”

“They have been given skills, which they must now be prepared to use to earn a living,”

According to him, “the SBU has already been established within the Integrated Business and Technology Community (IBTC), where as private business concerns, they have been given job opportunities to work and earn a living like every other normal citizens of this country. They must not waste the opportunity.

“After all, they are part of our future generation and like a father, I have a sympathy for their future, which is why I and members of my committee are committed to ensuring that with the rich training we have given to them, it will enable them emerge as useful citizens, who can earn a living for themselves and their dependants.”