The Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on
Prosecution, Barrister Okoi Obono-Obla has petitioned Governor Ben Ayade over
Cults Activities in his Village. The petition was addressed to Governor Ayade
and copied to the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, the National
Security Adviser Office, Abuja, the DG, State Security Services HQ, Abuja, the
Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Police Command, for attention and
consideration.
Barrister Obono-Obla requested the governor to order security
agencies to clamp down on murderous, vicious and blood thirsty cult/terror
groups operating in the State and constitute a judicial commission of inquiry
to investigate the perpetrators of the terror/cult-related violence and spate
of killings in Ugep (Yakurr); Ogoja; Obudu; Calabar South Local Government
Areas of the state.
The Senior Special Adviser alleged that most members of Governor
Ayade’s government belong to dreaded and deadly cult/terror groups which have
threatened the peace, well-being and security of the People of Obudu, Ogoja,
Yakurr, Calabar-South Local Government Areas of Cross River State, which more
or less has caused a near breakdown of law and order in these areas.
He said there has also been spate of cult-related
murders/killings in Ugep, Obudu, Ogoja, and Calabar-South Local Government
Areas of the State. “It has got so bad that in Ogoja the population went on
rampage and raided the homes of suspected members of these cult/terror groups
and unleashed ‘justice’ on them”
“This indeed is a dangerous trend that should not be tolerated
by any government at all on account of the serious consequences of mischievous
people cashing in on such trend to settle scores with perceived enemies”.
“It could
easily lead to the total disintegration of society and lead to a return to the
era described by Thomas Hobbes, the 18th Century Legal Philosophy, when life
was short, nasty and brutish. In all these the Government of Cross River State
has been totally and completely ambivalent and indeed half-hearted and lukewarm
in tackling this huge and ominous security problem which has assumed
frightening, pandemic and endemic proportion”, he stated.
Apart from the high rate and incidence of cult/terror security
challenges in Cross River State, the State regrettably has one of the highest
kidnapping rates in the country so much so that averagely in Calabar more than
ten kidnappings takes place daily.
He lamented various incidents that took place in Ugep, the
Headquarters of the Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State on the
29th June, 2017,” which I believe your Security Adviser and the Police must
have briefed the Governor and itemized them to the Governor Ayade.”
He listed close to or over fifty suspected cult members and
their sponsors in the petition. “Item Eno Obla is a notorious cultist and
terrorist/murderer and is the head of the notorious and dreaded Axemen, a group
that often terrorise people in Ugep. He is said to be under the sponsorship and
protection of Honourable Bassey Eko Ewa, a member of the House of
Representatives from the Yakurr Federal Constituency. He is also the
“Commander’’ of the group that serves as Palace Guards to the Obol Lopon of
Ugep, Obol Ofem Ubangha”
“Thereafter, hundreds of Axemen were mobilised in their hundreds
armed with axes, automatic rifles, pistols and machetes to terrorise the
natives of Ugep. These two cult groups, (Bargers and Axemen) in Ugep are a
threat to the peace and security of the People of Ugep, Yakurr Local Government
Area.
He said the two groups of cultists are well funded financed by
some powerful Politicians and individuals. “They have a stock pile of modern
weaponry in their arsenal which they often use to unleash terror on the hapless
people of Ugep and its environs”.
“The
incident of 29th June, 2017, has caused palpable tension and fear in the Ugep Community
and unless something is done there is a likelihood of reprisals and communal
violence erupting in Ugep which is the second largest Urban City in Cross River
State.
It is instructive that the activities of these
terror and cult groups (Axemen and Bargers) are not restricted to Ugep alone”
“There is undoubtedly a high rate of kidnapping and cult related
violence and killings in Cross River State. I seriously fear that if the
Government of Cross River State fails to take action now the entire State may
sooner than later be consumed by an orgy of killings and murders never seen in
the annals of the history of this State and indeed the country”
“In order to prevent a reprisal and or communal conflict from
erupting in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State by a gang
of cultists and terrorists, the Government must intervene immediately and
decisively”.
“In the light of the above, I respectfully pray the Governor of
Cross River State to: Request the Inspector General of Police and the Director
General of State Security Services and Comptroller General of Nigerian Security
and Civil Defence Corps to immediately deploy/constitute a Crack Team of
Detectives/Squads to investigate the brutal killing of Mr. Jude Iroegbu Junior
on the 29th June, 2017, by a group of Axemen,” he appealed.
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