The Ede-ma Development Association (EDA) of Edumoga district in Okpokwu local government area of Benue State has urged the state government and police command to investigate and proffer solutions to the increasing cases of cultism across the state, especially in the district.
The call came following the recent cult violence in Ugbokolo town and surrounding communities of Amejo and Okonobo wards in Edumoga which reportedly left no fewer than 10 youths dead and paralysed commercial activities in the area, especially in Ugbokolo, Effoyo and Ichakwu.
A statement signed by Michael Agbam and Matthew Oboyi, the national president and national secretary respectively which was made available to LEADERSHIP in Abuja yesterday, said Ede-ma as a progressive civil society organisation believes that cultism and all forms of criminality and violence in any part of the state constitute danger to the security of lives and property, peace and prosperity.
“We call on the police command to retrace its steps and commence a thorough investigation into the killings to unravel the killers as well as the cult groups and their members. No doubt, this is an organised criminality which demands careful and dedicated professional investigative approach and not a hurried arrest and prosecution.
“We also call on the Benue State government under Governor Hyacinth Alia to set up a probe panel to investigate and proffer solutions to the increasing cases of cultism, which we gathered, is very much alive in virtually all communities across the state,” the statement said.
The group also called on the state police command to immediately release Agboji John Audu whose arrest and remand, from information available to them and as contained in the Police First Information Report (FIR), were based on “frivolous and unsubstantiated” allegations.
It commended the Edumoga Youth Association (EYA) and Edumoga Youth Movement (EYM) for their intervention on killings, and for the strategic initiative to end cultism in Edumoga land by enjoining the youth, community and traditional leaders in Amejo, Okonobo and Ugbokolo wards to take oath not to belong to any cult group.
“While the initiative or strategy of oath-taking to renounce cultism may not be fool proof, it is however a traditional method with proven capacity to eliminate or appreciably reduce the menace of cultism and other forms of criminality from Edumoga,” the association added.
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