Group Decries Rising Cult-related Violence In Rivers

The directorate of Reorientation of the Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), has decried the recent rise in cult-related violence, especially amongst youths in Rivers State.

It said the disturbing developments were not isolated incidents; rather, they represent the culmination of years of systemic neglect, lack of opportunities, and the failure of institutions responsible for youth development to adequately address the socioeconomic challenges confronting the young people.

The directorate, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday and signed by Ambassador Hope Harvard Erekosima, therefore called on the state government and other relevant institutions to urgently embark on reorientation of the youths as well as engage in human capital development, in order to drive the minds of the youth away from cultism and violence.

The statement said investigations and community engagements by the organisation revealed that the increasing involvement of youths in cultism and violent gangs can be traced to several remote and immediate causes, which includes limited access to quality education, and absence of structured vocational training programmes, amongst others.

The statement reads in part: “The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), through its Directorate of Reorientation, expresses deep concern over the recent and growing cases of cult-related violence across several communities in Rivers State and other parts of the Niger Delta.

“These disturbing developments are not isolated incidents; rather, they represent the culmination of years of systemic neglect, lack of opportunities, and the failure of institutions responsible for youth development to adequately address the socioeconomic challenges confronting our young people.

“Our investigations and community engagements reveal that the increasing involvement of youths in cultism and violent gangs can be traced to several remote and immediate causes.

“These include limited access to quality education, absence of structured vocational training programmes, high unemployment rates, and the widespread lack of empowerment opportunities within the Ijaw communities.

“In many of our communities, indigent youths who drop out of school due to financial hardship are left without viable alternatives for skill acquisition or employment. With little hope for the future, they become vulnerable to peer pressure, manipulation, and recruitment into cult groups.

“Additionally, the persistent social neglect experienced by many communities has created an environment where frustration, depression, and identity crises are increasingly common among young people.

“Many youths watch helplessly as their aspirations and dreams gradually erode due to the absence of support systems that could help them build productive and dignified lives. In such circumstances, cult groups often present themselves as sources of belonging, protection, and economic survival.

“MOSIEND calls on the Federal Government, the Rivers State Government, and all relevant agencies to urgently initiate a coordinated youth development strategy for the Niger Delta. This strategy must include massive vocational training programmes, entrepreneurship funding, educational scholarships, mental health and counseling services, and community-based empowerment initiatives.

“The Presidential Amnesty Programme must also be revitalized to ensure transparency, fairness, and the continuous engagement of beneficiaries through training and reintegration support.”