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By Madu Obi
Worried by the increasing menace of cultism in Awka, which has led to the death of over 40 people, mainly youths, in recent months, stakeholders in the area on Wednesday took a bold decision on how to end the menace.
At the stakeholders meeting convened by a prominent indigene of the area, Chief Jeff Nweke, the people decided that a date would be set aside in December this year for all cultists in Awka to renounce it, assuring that such people would be granted pardon.
The security summit, titled "Combating/Preventing Violent Crimes and Cultism in Awka Metropolitan City," was attended by the Police, the DSS and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC.
Addressing the gathering made up of women, youths and titled men in the community, Nweke said: "We Awka people from the 20 villages that make up four quarters of Ezinano have decided to end cult activities in the area.
What is happening in Awka was not happening before.
Cultism and violent crimes have become very rampant and these cultists kill people with esse and in our presence. Awka people loved each other and we are wondering what caused the change in attitude.
Some parents have lost three children to cult killings and these people kill with impunity. We know these cultists. They live with us . As Awka people, we want to inform everyone that we will no longer condone it.
We need to find a solution to the problem, but we have to first find out the cause and how to solve it, hence this stakeholders meeting. As much as we are rejecting this unfortunate trend, we believe that the best way to solve it is to identify the root cause."
Cultism is eroding our values and our culture. We are industrious people, but our children have gone into something that is bringing shame to our community. We are therefore pleading with security agencies to help us by promoting security- community relationship.
"We cannot allow our people to be killed anymore. Anytime there's killing, we should identity the killer before security operatives arrive. If your child is a cultist, tell him to renounce it immediately because we will no longer tolerate cult killing in Awka."
Although he attributed the surge in crime to the city's status as state capital, he warned against resorting to "shoot on sight" tactics, instead of advocating for a collaborative approach with security agencies to address the root cause of the problem.
To ameliorate the negative impact of cultism on the families, Nweke announced that N100 million would be disbursed to the women to enable them start small-scale businesses.
The state Commissioner of Police, Obono Nnaghe Itam, represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Aniete Eyo, identified inferiority complex, domestic violence, unemployment, and social injustice as underlying causes of cultism.
He traced the origin of cultism to tertiary institutions, but noted that street cultists are often recruited by individuals who have graduated from higher institutions and are seeking a sense of belonging.
Additionally, he blamed politicians for recruiting cultists during elections and highlighted the role of dysfunctional homes in contributing to cultism.
He warned that security should not be a one-man affair and called for synergy in combating crime and underscored the vital importance of families and schools in preventing cultism and other crimes.
The CP lamented that youths who are directly involved in cult activities were not there in large numbers and urged leaders of Awka to include them in their future programmes.
"I expected to see key players involved in cultism in this gathering, but I'm seeing innocent people, mainly women who are usually the victims. The most dangerous cultist is someone's child and that is why the battle should start from the home", he said.
The CP however commended the people for coming out publicly to discuss and condemn cultism in its entirety.
Some policemen who had helped in fighting cultism in the area were honoured at the ceremony.
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