About 40 youths in Abini Community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State have renounced their membership of the Vikings, Klans and Axemen cult groups and pledged to embrace lawful living.

The youths made the commitment on August 26, 2026, during a sensitisation and engagement programme organised by the Cross River State Police Command in collaboration with the Abini Elites Association, comprising the Clan Head and Chiefs of Abini Community, and the LauraHope Foundation.

Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, who confirmed in a statement made available to journalists on Monday in Calabar, said the initiative was part of the proactive, community-based crime prevention strategy of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue.

The Statement read, “The Cross River State Police Command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo-Geoffrey Ordue, has recorded a significant breakthrough in its proactive, community-based crime prevention strategy, as about 40 youths associated with the Vikings, Klans and Axemen cult groups in Abini Community, Biase Local Government Area, renounced their membership and pledged to embrace peaceful and law-abiding lifestyles.

“The youths made the commitment on 26 August 2026 during a sensitisation and engagement programme organised by the Command in collaboration with the Abini Elites Association (AEA), comprising the Clan Head and Chiefs of Abini Community, and the LauraHope Foundation”, he said.

According to the statement, the engagement focused on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse, unlawful possession of firearms and other social vices.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo-Geoffrey Ordue, represented at the event by the Divisional Police Officer of Yakurr Division, CSP Innocent Ayabotu, urged the youths to reject criminality and become agents of peace and development in their community.

“Our engagement is focused on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse, unlawful possession of firearms and other social vices. I want to urge youths to reject criminality and become agents of peace and development in their community”, he stated.

The Police Commissioner said the development reflects the Command’s strategies in stabilising crime prevention, intelligence gathering and early intervention to address factors that facilitate youth recruitment into criminal networks, adding that it aligns with the policing framework, which prioritises intelligence-led and community-oriented policing.

CP Ordue commended the traditional rulers, community leaders, LauraHope Foundation and the youths for their cooperation, stressing that sustainable security requires collective responsibility between the Police, communities and other stakeholders.

The Command reassured residents that it will continue to combine intelligence-led enforcement with preventive interventions and partnership-driven policing to disrupt criminal activities, protect vulnerable youths and sustain peace across Cross River State.

We will continue to combine intelligence-led enforcement with preventive interventions, strategic community engagement and partnership-driven policies to sensitise our youths to reject cultism and other forms of criminality, while encouraging them to become positive agents of peace and development within their community”, the Commissioner added. (The PUNCH)