By Joy Mbachi.
The Nigeria Police, Anambra Command, has called on Anambra residents to join the command in the fight against cultism and other vices.
SP. Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO for the command,made the call in a statement he made available to journalists in Awka on Friday
He expressed the commitment of the command making sure that the Cult menace is reduced to the barest minimum in the state.
Ikenga listed factors that induce cultism in youths to include poor parental and Home Background.
He said that participation in cult activities might also be influenced by parents’ involvement in similar activities.
On Societal decay,he note with concern that “There is a mad rush to acquire wealth and power amongst the adults, so the youths see such behaviour as normal and picks on it.”
Speaking on Emotional Sickness, he said that children who had emotional sickness tended to be depressed and frustrated with life, and in an attempt to express their anger against neglect, they might join cult groups to unleash terror on the society that caused them emotional pain.
On why people join cult groups, he said:”
” On motivation for joining cults,the police image maker explained that the problem might come from peer group influence. , adding that some students became cultists because their friends lured them into joining to be respected.”
He said that most times, these young minds get support from highly-placed individuals in the society with intentions to please them and get some gratification.
He also identified inadequate religious and moral Education as part of the factors that made some parents to abandon their responsibilities in the area of moral upbringing of their children because of the craze for material wealth.
“They hardly show interest in the educational/academic progress of their children. Such parents do not attend parents’ fora and meetings.
In some institutions, officials play the role of grand patron to some cult groups and also sponsor them. The student cultists are used against several members of the community for selfish reasons.
Ikenga said that the police command is worried over the rate at which cultism practices spread in the state and appealed to residents to synergise with police Campaign Against Cultism and other Vices (POCACOV) in this advocacy.
Edited by Dawud Ahmed.
