Anambra legislators decry rising cultism menace

.calls on police to intensify efforts

ANAMBRA State legislatures have called on Governor Willie Obiano to direct the Commissioner of Police Anambra State Command, to intensify efforts in check-mating the upsurge of cultism and its activities in Anambra State.
Chief sponsor of the motion and   member, representing Njikoka 1 Constituency and House Committee Chairman on Works, Tim Ifedioramma moved the motion and was seconded by member,  representing Anambra East Constituency and House Committee Chairman on Finance and Appropriation, Obinna Chris Emeneka.
According to Ifedioramma, “this motion is an S.O.S in the sense that the barbaric and evil that this very social vise has caused us in this state is alarming. Cultism has various definitions.  This is a very serious social and security problem. All that they represent and the outcome of their activities are evil. We are losing our youths in numbers as a result of this.
Commercial buses, tricycle riders, students at both secondary and primary levels, are into one group or the other. It has now become like a title taking by youths.   The situation now calls for an emergency. The manner at which these people operate is very barbaric. They assault, rape, kidnap and murder people at will. We need to curb it.
Supporting the motion, member, representing Oyi Constituency, Charles Obimma, member representing Njikoka 2 Constituency,, Peter Ibida, member representing Anambra East Constituency,  Obinna Chris Emeneka, member, representing Idemili South Constituency, Febian  Ezewune,  member representing Awka South 1, Nnamdi .G. Okafor, member representing Onitsha South, Innocent Eli, in their different submissions condemned the act.
They noted that there are certain things responsible for these ills which need to be tackled headlong; adding that nobody was born a cultist.
They were unanimous in their agreement that the number of cultists is out-numbering the number of police in the society, while emphasizing that those boys need to be rehabilitated as much as the matter requires more serious approach.
According to Idemili South Constituency representative, Ezewune, “in every community in Anambra, there are groups of criminals whose sole aim is to rub, kill kidnap and force people to join their gangs. This is a grant threat to the progress of the state.
It is on record that this state is the safest state in the country and section 14 of the 1999 constitution (as amended)  talks about the security of life and property of citizens.
He maintained that advocacy, counseling and orientation should be intensified.
“The state should have a multi-dimensional direction. It should not be left for the police alone. Individuals should report any suspected persons or gatherings.  We have recorded too many casualties and it is high time we considered community policing and state police.
Cultists should renounce their membership. It is not really worth it because I don’t see the benefit. This has affects on our safety. We are concerned because of the alarming rate of its occurrence in Anambra.”