Ebonyi Governor Empowers 145 Denounced Cultists

Following the denouncement of 145 cultists from the group, Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi, has approved their documentation for empowerment in the state.

The governor, who stated this in Abakaliki, the state capital, on Sunday, said the ex-cultists would be absolved into the New Life Empowerment programme of the state.

However, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation and acting Commissioner for Human Capital Development, Uchenna Orji, said the beneficiaries have been invited for accreditations.

Orji said the documentation would start on January 21 to 22, 2020.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Afikpo North Council Area, Chief Okoh Enyim, has commended the state governor for the empowerment of 145 ex-cultists in the state.

Speaking with journalists in Abakaliki, Enyim noted that the importance of the empowerment cannot be over-emphasised as it would help stamp out cultism and other criminal activities in the state.

He noted that before now, the state had witnessed bloody clashes between different cult groups which led to the death of many promising youths in the state and destruction of properties, adding that on assumption of office, the state governor promised to stamp out such ugly activities in the state.

According to him, "Before now, cult activities were on the increase in the state. Every passing month, we had cult clashes in the different parts of the state, which led to the death of so many promising youths. Ebonyi was one of the states that the activities of cultists was on the increase and became a flash point, but today, one hardly heard of any cult related activities in the state.

"It has been identified that peer group influence, idleness and drug use are some of the things that have led young people into cult activities. The state governor, on assumption of office, set up the School Evangelism programme with notable clerics as members of the committee. The committee toured different schools to preach against cult activities.

"The governor did not stop at that, he also gave warning that any political appointee or elected political office holder who is identified as a cult member would be handed over to the police for prosecution, as that goes to show his determination to stamp out cult activities in the state, and today, his effort has yielded desired fruit."

Enyim called on other state governors to emulate such gesture, as empowering the youths would be a major panacea to eradicating unemployment, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the society.

Also a clergyman, Pastor Alfred Nwachukwu, has called on other cult members in the state, who are yet to denounce their cult membership to do so and take advantage of the state government empowerment programme.