Why I Advocated Amnesty For Kidnappers – Ozekhome

mike-ozekhome

Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhomhe, SAN, weekend, in Ivieukwe- Agenebode, in Weppa-Wano Kingdom of Edo State, explained why he called for amnesty for kidnappers by the Federal Government, upon his release from the kidnapper’s den.

Recalling how he was kidnapped on August 23, 2013 and how the policemen that were on rescued mission were killed by the kidnappers, Chief Ozekhomhe, expressed appreciation to God in a thanksgiving Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Ivieukwe, to mark his safe return from the kidnappers den.

The lawyer explained that he was misunderstood by those who criticised his call for amnesty for kidnappers, insisting that he was only acting in consonance with the Lord’s injunction that “vengeance is mine.”

“Yes, I called for amnesty for kidnappers, but people did not understand me. They asked why I should call for amnesty for people who kidnapped and tortured me. Thank God that the Bishop preached along that line, that we must learn to forgive.

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for by so doing, you will be hopefully pouring hot charcoals and fire on his head. So, I did not curse, I did not ask for retribution for vengeance. God sees my mind for even calling for amnesty for them. What did God do? In the last two weeks after I was released, the kingpins of the kidnapping gang that kidnapped me who called themselves ‘Generals’ were arrested. It was after their arrest that we discovered that we were in their dens around Kokori area of Delta State.”