Cult-related activities in Awka, the Anambra State capital, are becoming increasingly alarming, with reckless killings on the rise. As the activities continue, almost becoming normal in the city, the state government and residents seem not to have any solution in sight. Unfortunately, many families are crying as young ones are losing their lives.
Weekend Trust reports that many people have been killed across various communities in both Awka-north and south. During the Easter period, for example, over 18 persons were murdered at different locations – two were gunned down at the popular Aroma junction, while others fell victims in Umuonaga Umuogbu village and Umukwa.
Among the victims were a young man on a motorcycle and a staff member of the Anambra State Judiciary, identified as Izuu Nwofor, who was killed opposite Dike Park, by Eke Awka market.
Areas where killings have become common include; Ifite, Okpuno, Dike Street, near Eke Awka Main Market, Obinagu, Nkwelle, Ezinano and UNIZIK junction.
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Recently, business owners were forced to close their shops and flee for safety when gunmen suspected to be cultists killed a young man in his twenties in broad daylight at the busy Aroma area of Awka. The victim, a tricycle revenue collector from Amudo village, was reportedly trailed from Ifite and shot at a close range in a filling station near a popular bus stop. Hours later, another youth wearing the state government’s traffic enforcement task force apron was gunned down by suspected cultists who fled in a Siena bus after ensuring that he died on the spot.
Speaking on the killings, Henry Mbachu, who represents Awka 1 constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly on the platform of the Labour Party, expressed concern that over 34 people died in the area within three weeks. He lamented that the state capital was degenerating into an unsafe environment.
In search of a solution to the menace, the lawmaker convened a meeting of Awka residents, stakeholders and indigenes from all over the country. Major stakeholders, including Ozo titleholders, village heads, women leaders, clergymen and politicians attended the gathering.
During the meeting, Mbachu remarked, “We must come together to find a way forward. Awka is the capital of our state. We can no longer keep quiet. The governor, his deputy, Speaker of the state House of Assembly and all the members, as well as the commissioner of police, the director of the Department of State Service (DSS), the commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and various security agencies reside in Awka, so, who are these cultists that our security forces cannot team up to combat? We need to look inward to understand the root of the problem as I no longer believe that this is solely about cult killings.
“Since Easter, I have counted no fewer than 34 youths killed. These are people’s children, husbands and fathers. Should we continue to fold our hands and allow this to happen?”
He traced the menace to declining moral values among the youth and the failure of parents and elders, and said that despite constructing 54 gates at nearly every entry and exit point and establishing 18 vigilant groups, more deliberate actions were needed to address the problem.
As part of the needed solutions, Ozo Ndu Nwakalor, the secretary of the Ozo titleholders in Awka, announced that any member who facilitates bail for offences related to cultism would be de-robed and excommunicated from the society.
On her part, Mrs Ogechukwu Ekwuozor, the president-general of the Awka Women’s Town Union, urged security agencies to prioritise the safety of the state capital, noting that many people were compelled to flee their homes. She called on mothers to monitor their children’s behaviours and stop shielding them when they engage in criminal activities.
A chieftain of the Labour Party, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, emphasised the need for the state government to prioritise security, saying it is crucial to create employment opportunities for the youth.
The senator representing Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh, urged residents of Awka to mobilise and put an end to the cult activities and related crimes in the area. He emphasised that the Igbo nation was not known for shedding innocent blood, and noted that insecurity was hindering the development of the state capital.
He said, “Security should be everybody’s business as it affects both the economic and social life of the people. Awka is as blessed as any other town designated as state capital. I urge you to secure your land so that both residents and visitors can live happily and their businesses can thrive. If Awka is secure, people would come to invest; no one likes to invest in an insecure environment.”
Also, Prof Lilian Orogbu, who represents Awka North and Awka South federal constituency at the National Assembly, expressed concern over the situation, which she said had forced many scholars and others to leave the state capital.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Somtochukwu Udeze, expressed optimism that the cult-related crisis would become a thing of the past once the executive arm of government fully implements the anti-cult law already passed by the state legislature. He explained that the bill outlined relevant punishments for cultists, their associates, landlords, producers and marketers of firearms and anyone involved in cult-related activities.
Despite the meeting and the call by stakeholders for the cultist to stop their criminal activities, recently, some youths in a Lexus car, suspected to be members of a cult group, stormed a festival in Nibo community in Awka South Local Government Area and killed 11 people.
The suspects were said to have also invaded a bar near Oye Nwochichi, by Nibo Old Maternity, close to the venue of the festival and opened fire on the people, killing eight persons instantly.
Three persons were also killed at Nodu-Okpuno community in Awka-South LGA.
Weekend Trust reports that cult-related activities have persisted despite interventions by security agents and the state government, as well as various communities, affecting economic activities.
A resident who spoke to our correspondent said the boys were known but various communities were shielding them, adding that cult activities will end in Awka any day the government and the people decide to take “proper action”.
He said, “The state government should properly fund the security agencies, including the vigilantes, who are mostly members of the communities. Some people are afraid of opening up, for fear of being killed by the bad boys because nobody will protect them. They are known in the communities but fear will not allow the people to confront them.”
Also, the Anambra State police command, speaking through its Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, accused families of victims of destroying evidence by hurriedly burying those killed by the cultists, saying their action was hindering investigation.
Our correspondent reports that when Governor Charles Soludo visited the scene of the killings in Nibo community, he vowed to fish out those behind the dastardly act. He assured that the government would do everything possible to ensure that the menace was effectively checked. He urged the people to go about their lawful duties, saying the perpetrators would be arrested and made to face the law.
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