The President and Founder of DUNAETA, Lady Monica Chidinma Ada Eze, has commended the amnesty for bandits announced last week by the Ebonyi State Government under the watch of Engr. David Nweze Umahi.

She noted in a statement made available to media houses on Monday in Abakaliki, the state capital, that the amnesty scheme is designed to untangle the minds of the youth from crime and criminality and engage them in meaningful ventures.

Lady Monica, who doubles as Technical Assistant to Gov. Umahi on Media, appealed to young people “to lay down arms and support a regime of development stressing that no meaningful achievements can be recorded by government and development partners in a society engulfed in manifest insecurity.”

She also commended her boss, who doubles as Chairman, South-East Governors Forum, “for demonstrating commitment towards human capital development, describing the venture as a holistic approach towards sustainable peace and development.”

The DUNAETA President appealed to young people to shun banditry, kidnapping, bloodletting and other anti-human engagements capable of instigating crisis, threatening peace and frustrating the serenity of a human environment. She reminded perpetrators of crime that “their activities leave a blend of bitter and unsavory memory in the hearts of victims that society looks at every criminal with disdain.”

She also congratulated Governor Umahi and the Ebonyi State Government for initiating and conducting a seven-day fasting and prayer “to pray to God who is the ultimate and embodiment of peace to sustain the peace in Ebonyi State.”

“Considering the failure of the military in tackling the menace of insecurity in Nigeria the idea of prayer and fasting becomes inevitable and imperative as I wish that the entire country emulates Ebonyi State and embarks upon on such a spiritual exercise in order to exorcise insecurity and the ongoing evil and mindless kidnapping, banditry and wickedness that have engulfed our dear nation. The powers and benefits of prayers and fasting need not be over-emphasised,” she stated.