Cult war: Again Wike leads security agents to demolish more hideouts

From Chris Anucha, Port Harcourt

RIVERS State governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday led security men to demolish al­leged cultists /kidnappers’ hideouts in the state. This is part of the anti-cultism war currently going in the state, which is aimed at routing kidnapping and cultism, which have portrayed the state in a bad light. The governor had, on Monday, June 27, 2016, led security agents, headed by Lieu­tenant Colonel AC Unaogu, to some cultists’ hideouts, and directed the im­mediate demolition of a house in Ru­muolumini community, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, belonging to one Munachim Ihunwo.

He had alleged that the demol­ished building was acquired through crime, adding that his administration had zero tolerance for kidnapping and cultism.

The governor also said that the de­molition of the building was in line with the anti-kidnapping and cultism law, pointing out that it was also part of his efforts to rid the state of cultists and kid­nappers.

Yesterday’s operation also saw the governor and the new Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, supervising the demoli­tion of two “deadly cultists and kid­nappers’ camps”, at the Eagle Is­land, a Port Harcourt suburb. One of the camps was located behind the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in the area, while the second one was known as Andoni camp.

Like in the case of the demolished building at the Rumuolumini, Governor Wike said a police station would be built at the site of the cultists’ camp be­hind the RCCG, while a communi­ty hospital would be constructed at the site of the demolished Andoni camp.

Addressing journalists after the opera­tion, Wike said all cultists’ hideouts in the area would be demolished to restore peace in the state. According to him, the war against cultists and kidnappers would be sustained. He, however, appealed to the residents to always avail the se­curity agencies of necessary informa­tion that would help them in cracking down suspected criminals in the state.

He said: “There will be no hideouts in the state. This war against cultists and kidnappers will be sustained. We are hap­py about the results we are getting.”

Also speaking, the Commissioner of Po­lice said many suspected cultists and kid­nappers were arrested during the operation.

The Rivers State Kidnap (Prohibition) Law Number 3 of 2009, as amended by the current Rivers State House of Assem­bly, and assented to by the governor pro­vides for additional penalties, including confiscation of assets got from kidnapping, cultism and other related crimes.