Deygbam and Iceland Cult groups on Sunday June 2,2019 in Ibaa in Emohua local Government area of Rivers state, Nigeria signed a peace accord in the presences of security chiefs in the local Government area,Tom Aliezi,Chairman of Emohua local Government area and other stakeholders.Two weeks ago in Ubima community in Ikwerre local Government area of Rivers state,Iceland nad Deygbam cult groups also signed peace agreement
This is not the first time the two cult groups in Ibaa,Ubima and other communities were signing peace agreement. The first one was October 2016, when the Rivers state Government granted the cult groups Amnesty.
The peace accord of 2016 October did not last upto six months before the cultists renewed hostility.
THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW CAN THE PEACE ACCORD BETWEEN THESE CULT GROUPS IN IBAA,UBIMA AND OTHER AREA THAT WILL FOLLOW SUIT BE SUSTAINED?
.First, they must undergo serious counseling by certified counselors in order to bring back that human conscience in them.
Secondly the Government including the local and state Government must do all within its capacity to engage the “repentant cultists” meaningfully .
Thirdly all the “repentant cultists” should be profiled by Department of State Security (DSS) and their activities closely monitored
I also suggest that some of them who have been found to have genuinely repented should be made to work closely with security agencies on the basis of intelligence gathering
Also the Government should go a step further by making genuine peace with families of innocent individuals killed by these “repentant cultists” during the days of terror
The security agencies and the Government should employ all tactics to retrieve the arms from these “repentant cultists” and also interrogate them on where and how they get the arms and ammunition they use in carrying out their operation
The Governments should endeavour to provide employment to engage ideal youths.
There should be deliberate policy by the Government such as energized anti-cultism unit which will ensure massive anti-cultism campaign in all our primary and secondary schools since some of our schools have become breeding ground for cultists. The Government should also liase with security agencies and the school authority to spread its intelligence to our schools.
The School Management should create an avenue to educate the pupils and students on the dangers and consequence of indulging in cultism and other social vices atleast once every week during devotion
By Prince Wiro,Publisher of Revelation Agents Online News
and also Public Relations Officer of Civil Rights Council PortHarcourt
To contact Prince Wiro, email revelationagents@gmail.com or whatsapp +2348065227445