The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State, Mr. Don Awunah, has revealed that there are over 50 organised cult groups in the state.
The commissioner made the revelation in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state during the kick-off of his familiarisation tours of police area commands in Bayelsa.
But Awunah said the command was committed to clamping down on cult-related activities in the state, urging culprits to desist from the act.
According to him, the issue of cultism has become a very serious issue all over the country but the police would not relent on its efforts to check the menace.
Awunah stated, “After some analysis of crime profile, we discovered that cultism drives most of the violent crimes, including rape, that is crime of passion; armed robbery, kidnapping, among others.
“There are over 50 organised cult groups in this state, but we are on top of the situation and that is why we have launched ‘Operation Safer Bayelsa’ and created anti-cultism units to fight the cult gangs.
“I must believe that we are winning the war but the war cannot be successful without the support of the traditional rulers and the youths, who are the vanguard of the society.
“The traditional ruler is the one that knows the land; he knows people involving in crimes; yes, the police use arms to fight crime but arms do not necessarily curtail it.”
In his remarks, Youth President in Sagbama, Mr. Ebidewei Amboro, condemned the act of cultism in the society and described it as a “huge threat” to the people not only in the area but Bayelsa and Nigeria at large.
Amboro said his members were ready to support the police in their efforts to clamp down on cult activities in the area.
He, therefore, warned those engaged in the ignoble activities to steer clear or have themselves to blame.
