A total of 40 youths associated with cult groups in Abini Community, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, have publicly renounced cultism and pledged to embrace peaceful and law-abiding lifestyles.
The development followed interventions by the Abini Elites Association and Laurahope Care and Rescue Foundation, which have been working with community stakeholders to address cultism and other social vices in the area.
Key Highlights
40 youths in Abini Community have publicly renounced cultism.
The youths pledged to embrace peaceful and law-abiding lifestyles.
Laurahope Care and Rescue Foundation said the initiative was community-based.
The foundation called for stronger cooperation with the Cross River State Police Command.
Police Commissioner Ajo Geoffrey Ordue pledged continued intelligence-led policing.
Police and the foundation discussed extending similar interventions to other parts of Cross River State.
40 youths renounce cultism in Abini
The Director of Laurahope Care and Rescue Foundation, Mr Hope James, disclosed the development during a meeting with the Cross River State Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, in Calabar.
James said the intervention in Abini was a community-based initiative designed to address cultism, which he described as a longstanding challenge in the community.
He called for stronger collaboration between the foundation and the police to sustain the progress recorded and improve rehabilitation and reintegration efforts for youths who renounce cultism.
According to him, the foundation has also strengthened its partnership with relevant stakeholders to tackle cultism and other social vices across Cross River State.
Police promise intelligence-led approach
Responding, Commissioner of Police Ajo Geoffrey Ordue said the Cross River State Police Command would continue to deploy intelligence-led policing and lawful enforcement against criminal elements.
Ordue, however, stressed that sustainable security required more than enforcement, noting the need for preventive measures to address factors that make young people vulnerable to cult recruitment.
The commissioner commended the foundation, community leaders and other stakeholders involved in the Biase cultism intervention.
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He said addressing cultism required the collective efforts of families, traditional institutions, religious organisations, schools, civil society groups and communities.
Police, foundation review Biase intervention
During the meeting, the police commissioner and the foundation reviewed the outcome of the intervention in Biase and discussed plans to extend similar community-based programmes to other parts of Cross River State.
The discussions also focused on supporting youths who renounce cultism and helping them reintegrate into their communities.
Both parties subsequently committed to deepening their partnership through sustained community-based interventions aimed at preventing cultism, supporting the reintegration of repentant youths and promoting peace and security across the state.
The stakeholders said continued cooperation among security agencies, community leaders, civil society organisations and families would be important in addressing the factors contributing to cultism among young people.
