Stakeholders rose from a three–day workshop for amnesty beneficiaries organized by the Benue State government calling for legal backing of the program.
The call was contained in a 10-point communiqué issued at the end of the workshop last weekend.
The stakeholders appealed to government to establish amnesty offices as well as skill acquisition centers in the three senatorial zones of the state.
They also called for the setting up of farm centers and drug free clubs in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for the beneficiaries.
The communiqué suggested the recruitment of the beneficiaries into Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, even as it advised the state government to put in place measures to avert spillover effects of cross border crimes.
The stakeholders urged the state government to approach bilateral and multilateral agencies for collaboration in the implementation of the amnesty program.
According to the communiqué, 556 people across the three senatorial districts of the state embraced the amnesty program and surrendered over 400 assorted arms and thousands of ammunitions.
The stakeholders appreciated the State Governor, Samuel Ortom for fulfilling the amnesty promise they said he made during his inauguration.