Business Booms Again In Ahoada …As Cultists Embrace Amnesty

Although there are indi
cations that business activities are picking up in Ahoada and its environs, the presence of cultists that are presumed to have surrendered their arms still casts a shadow of fear among residents and indigenes of the area.
According to investigations by The Tide, “the boys”, as they are referred to, are very much around. Only recently, business activities were halted as traders and members of the public were harassed, on a daily basis.
This development, according to The Tide findings, prompted people to relocate to other areas they perceived to be relatively safer.
However, with the relative peace being observed since the Amnesty Committee swung into action through fire arms mop-up across the state, sanity has gradually returned.
When The Tide went round, a number of streets in Ahoada like Odiemerenyi road, County High School, Ula- Ehuda Community and a number of other places, shops that were hitherto closed were seen being opened for business.
However, some of the trades who spoke to The Tide expressed reservations, wondering the peace would be sustained.
According to them, the boys are very much around despite the fact that there has not been any new disturbances since surrendering their arms.
One question that has been agitating the minds of many in the area is how these boys plan to better their lives economically now that their negative sources of livelihood has been taken away.
Some shop owners who spoke to The Tide said the scenario has made them to reduce their stock for fear of losing such to the boys in any renewed disturbance.
The Tide gathered that some shop owners who relocated to Bayelsa State and elsewhere were planning coming back to Ahoada due to the relative peace.
In addition, The Tide also gathered that there are also rumours, that not all the guns were sincerely returned by the cultists.