By Godwin Anene
Scores of suspected cultists and members of the dreaded cult group, Deybam, from Ikwerre and Emohua Local Government Areas of Rivers State on Sunday renounced their membership of the group with a vow not to return to their old life style.
The repentant cultists while renouncing further involvement in cult related activities also submitted assorted weapons including pump actions, AK47s and other ammunition which they had been using to foment troubles in the state.
They were received by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, who praised the courage of the former cultists for their courage to renounce violence and surrender their weapons to the police.
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Adamu received the former members of the Deybam cult group at a peace and development meeting held in Elele Alimini, Emohua LGA of the state on Sunday.
The IGP, while receiving repentant cultists, assured that all who genuinely repent and surrender arms to security agencies stand forgiven of their past lives.
Represented by Commander of Anti-Cultism Unit, Elele, Rivers Police Command, DSP Yisuf Idi, IGP appealed to youths not to depend on government to always provide jobs for them, saying that they should venture into entrepreneurship by acquiring skills that would better their life.
According to him, “I am here in the capacity of the IGP who earlier in September launched Operation Anti Cultism, directing that we use the kind of approach we are adopting here today to check rampant violence and proliferation of arms in the society.
“In line with this directive, let me, first, commend those of you who have come out to change to right thinking members of the society. Those not ready to come out to make change, be ready for us. We will take the war to you anywhere you are.
“I assure you who have submitted your arms, you are free. I commend the group who facilitated this. Security is not one man business. Please let everyone help in their own ways to ensure law and order prevail in our communities.”
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President General, Ikwerre-Etche Youth Forum, Gideon Isaac-Okpaka who facilitator the exercise, said, “It is our desire that our brothers come out of hideouts in our forests and bushes in the name of cultism.
“When they come out our mothers will go to farm freely. For those who have embraced repentance, I promise to stand by you all. For those who refused to come out, I appeal with the security agencies to give grace of one month, thereafter my group will hands off.”
“We are surprised that Degbam sect came out to forge peace and the rival gang, Icelanders did not come. We don’t know what is in their mind. We want government to visit some of the communities being used as hideout, like Okirika where some of Iceland boys are hiding.”
