Curbing Cultism In Port Harcourt (Part1)

By Elder Damiete West

                      Elder Damiete West

       

In the past few months, the   commercial and social activities are in their  lowest ebb in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State, due to the unending cult activities in the city.

Criminals and hoodlums have taken over the Mile 1 and Mile 3 Diobu axis of  Port Harcourt city. Residents in these areas are perpetually living in fear and sleeping with one eye closed. No one can predict what will happen the next moment.

Cultists even in  broad daylight molest and harass innocent citizens, forcefully disposing them of their valuables and  sometimes with threats of bodily harm. It is dreadful to pass through the Education bus stop area of Mile 1 between 7:00 pm and beyond because  it has become a flash point of criminal activities. The city has turned to the Thomas Hobbes' state of a nature, where life is short and brutal.

The recent cult war in some parts of the city had sparked off several killings in the Diobu axis. No one seems to bring the cult activities to an end. Penultimate week a young man was brutally murdered at Sangana street, Mile 1 Diobu, Port Harcourt.

Cultism frustrates economic advancement and bleeds several societal vices. If Rivers State is to experience economic growth, relevant authorities must declare war against cultism and gangsterism. No businessman will love to invest in an insecure environment.

For Rivers State to compete with states in terms of development, they must roll out policies that will fight cultism.The law enforcement agencies must be backed with security gadgets that will combat crime. Moreso in dealing with criminals there will be no sacred cow, the law must take it’s course, to ensure sanity in the state. Culprits must be prosecuted in law courts to serve as detriment to others. Rivers State as the Treasure Base of the nation must get rid of cultism and all forms of criminal activities.