Hard Times Await SDI Graduands, If…

Graduands of Social Development Institute at Okehi in Rivers State threatening to foment trouble have been advised to have a rethink or risk the full wrath of the law.

Consequently, the Rivers State Social Rehabilitation Committee (SRC) has directed the law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with those , who rather than seize the opportunity provided by the state government to rehabilitate and make them useful citizens, have now chosen to tread their inglorious past.

The SRC’s reaction came in the wake of the action of some of the graduands, who attempted to abduct a member of the SRC, Hon. Sampson Egop, in addition to harassing and molesting the Secretary of the committee, Chinda Wali Charles, who both lost handsets and money to the unruly graduands, while they were being counselled by the duo.

In a statement signed by the chairman of the SRC, Chief Albert K. Horsfall, the committee stated that “there is no free money for anybody and that graduands should go to the Special Business Unit (SBU) set up for them and work”. He noted that they must work to earn a living like normal citizens.

Horsfall was categorical  that any of the graduands arrested by law enforcement agents would be made to face the music, as “anyone who breaks the law would be dealt with according to the law,” He reminded them that “amnesty does not deal with post-amnesty crime.”

The chairman regretted that despite all that was done to change the behaviour of some of the unruly graduands, they had refused to toe the path of remorse and become useful members of the society.

“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,” he declared.

Already, law enforcement agents are on the trail of some of the ring leaders including Abam Abraham, Stephen Opusunju, Boma Ibama, Sydney Abbey, Braide Bright, Igobo Samspon Adoki, Nkasi Wodu, Sunday Sunday, James Orupabo and Iweriso James Miebaka.

Meanwhile, Chief Horsfall has called on the rest of the graduands to seize the present opportunity with both hands and become useful members of the society, saying that “they have been given skills, which they must now be prepared to use to earn a living,” pointing out that the Rivers State government was committed to their re-integration into the society.

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 dependents”.