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- Condemns killing of five youths in Edumoga community
- Urge government to intervene
From John Adams, Minna
Edumoga Youth Association (EYA) in Okpokwu local government area of Benue has expressed great concern over the rising cases of secret cult activities in some communities within the local government, describing the situation as very worrisome and a threat to the corporate existence of the people.
The youth association specifically condemned the recent killing of five youths by suspected cultists in the area following a bloody clash between some rival cult groups, warning that if the situation is not quickly addressed, it might lead to communal clash in the area.
The recent violence clash by the cult rival groups took place in Ugbokolo, Okonobo and Amejo communities which have become epic centers of secret cult activities in recent time with both business and commercial activities paralysed.
The youth association in statement after its emergency meeting in Abuja at the weekend and signed by the National President, Alhaji Lucky Itodo, a copy which was made available to The Sun, said the increasing cases of cult activities in these communities and other adjourning villages in the local government has further worsened the already deteriorated security situation in the area.
Alhaji Itodo pointed out that with the level of violence activities being perpetrated by these cult groups, if not urgently addressed, it might degenerated into communal clash, adding “their activities has a tendency of pitching one community against another if nothing is done to put a stop it.”
The National President maintained that already the activities of these groups has greatly affected the economic lives of these communities and has equally brought night lives to its lowest ebb as all the major markets within the areas have been disserted by the people for fear of being attacked by these cultists who rule and unleashed terror on innocent people with reckless abandoned.
Alhaji Itodo expressed worries that these communities that were hitherto known for peace and high commercial activities are now shadow of themselves as a result of the current development, stressing that “all this is as a result of the disturbing security situation in the areas occasioned by the activities of the cultist.”
According to him, “the current situation has not only made it difficult for sons and daughters of these communities to come home and develop their communities, investors are beginning to stay away from doing business in these communities for fear of being waylaid or even lynched. This is a very worrisome development,” he submitted.
The youth association while warning on a bad image these cultists are creating for these communities and the entire local government, it called on political and traditional leaders, elders and other critical stakeholders to join hands together to quickly find a solution to the menace “before it consumed all of us.”
The statement equally appealed to politicians in the area to desist from using the youths as political thugs to settle their disagreements, stressing that “we urged every youth, adult and lovers of peace in the entire Edumoga land to shun violence and desist from being used as political thugs and embrace peace.”
The association expressed its readiness to partner with relevant security agencies to combat crime in Edumoga land and the local government in general, adding that already it has organised a security committee from among member communities to team up with relevant security agencies to assist in bringing the security challenges under control.
The youth also commended the efforts of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police Force, the DSS Benue State Command and the Civil Defense for their efforts in ensuring that some level of peace and sanity is restored to the affected areas.
