By MICHAEL OVAT, Awka

The Traditional ruler of Okija community, Igwe Emeka Okezie, has declared Okija, a no hiding place for hoodlums and cultism related activities.

Igwe Okezie, made the declaration, on Monday, while speaking to Journalists at his palace, Ubahu Okija, in the Ihiala Local government area of Anambra State.

The Monarch, who has been complaining about nefarious activities of cultists in Okija in recent time, said the community, after series of security summits with the ruling age grade in Okija, resolved that henceforth, all cult members are banished from the town for seven years.

He disclosed that it was also resolved that any cult member who died in exile, no matter the circumstances surrounding his death, will not be buried in Okija and any family that defies the order by bringing in the corpse into Okija secretly will be excommunicated for seven years.

Going down memory lane on how security challenges began in the community, Igwe Okezie attributed it to a village youth election held at one of the villages, which according to him, recorded some irregularities that resulted in a clash between cult members, killings, destructions and confiscation of properties in the area.

He pointed out that most of the cultists move about at night with motorcycles, but restated that the community has resolved to key into the state government’s order restricting Okada from entering the town once it is nine o’clock in the night, regretting that most of the youths are unemployed and have refused to learn any skill acquisitions to be a changed person to their families and the society at large.

The Igwe maintained that the only way to discourage youths from cultism is for them to engage in meaningful ventures such as acquiring skills for their own good.

He commended the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr Monday Kuryas, for his quick actions and interventions in quelling cult activities, which brought about the relative peace and tranquillity being enjoyed by the people of the town, noting that series of arrest have been made. (Nigerian Tribune)

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