1,150 cultists repent, drop arms in Rivers

Tina Amanda

The Ibaa Security Peace and Advisory Committee, ISPAC, has extended by one week, its ultimatum for cult groups terrorising Emohua local government area to surrender their arms or face the consequences.

ISPAC Commander, Godday Awijaya who gave the ultimatum during the oath-taking ceremony by more than one thousand, one hundred and fifty repentant cult members at Ibaa Community, hinted that the security outfit is collaborating with security agencies to ensure that peace returns to Ibaa and its environs.

According to him, the extension was necessitated by the large turnout of repented cultists, stressing that the two-week ultimatum earlier given in July had elapsed.

“We and security agencies in Rivers State have put heads together to make peace in Ibaa Community by the power of the Almighty God. Today is the end of the two weeks ultimatum we gave to cult boys operating in the area to surrender.

“We have also given extra one week grace for other cult groups yet to drop arms. After the one-week extension, anyone who fails to comply will have to face our reaction starting from 9th July 2020.

“The consequences are that after taking the oath of repentance and they later go back to commit further crimes of stealing, killing, kidnapping or raping, we will take actions against such person”

On his part, Secretary of ISPAC, Aleru Chikakpobi confirmed that the extension of time is to give more opportunity to cultists to repent and embrace peace, adding that those repentant cultists who could not sleep in their various homes for the past five years, due to the enormous crime committed can now sleep in their houses.

Some of the repentant cultists who spoke to our correspondent shortly after their oath-taking expressed happiness for the opportunity given them to shun cultism and all forms of violence.

They, however, urged youths and other cult groups that are yet to take the oath, to do so and surrender their arms, as it is for the betterment and growth of Ibaa Community