THE INCREASING WAVE OF CULTISM ACTIVITIES IN IWHREKAN, EDJOPHE AND OTU-JEREMI COMMUNITIES IN UGHELLI SOUTH LGA, DELTA STATE – A SERIOUS CAUSE FOR CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED

– By Zik Gbemre

With the new trend of cultism activities ravaging and causing serious crises and apprehension in Edjophe, Iwhrekan, Otu-Jeremi and the neighbouring Communities in Ughelli South LGA, it is imperative for us to put some things into proper perspective, and urgently ask that the right steps be taken by stakeholders concerned to address it.

Let it be reiterated here that the recent killings in the stated Communities, as a result of the said cultism activities, is simply the clash of two suspected cultists groups that were killing themselves around Iwhrekan, Edjophe and Jeremi/Udu junction areas of Ughelli South LGA. In other words, the reported killings were within and amongst the two groups of suspected cultists. Even the swearing in ceremony of the New Executive in Iwhrekan Community on June 6th, 2019, went on smoothly and peacefully between the hours of 8am-9am under the presence of the Nigerian Police Officers from Otu-Jeremi Police Station and Area Commander’s Office Ughelli. It was after the said swearing in, and after the Police had left and the locals retired to their homes, that these suspected cultists started their trouble, which led to the death of one suspected cultists leader, and about two other suspected cultists.

So, it is therefore out of place to be casting blames on the Police for these killings in Ughelli South LGA. The only thing the Police did was to try to stop/prevent further bloodshed in these areas. The Police did not kill anyone as far as we can tell. The killings were done, and amongst the suspected cultists on themselves. In other words, the accusations on the Police is very unnecessary. The Police obviously prevented these suspected cultists/hoodlums from carrying out their evil acts to a large extent, hence right now, the news going round is that they are planning to attack the Otu-Jeremi Police Stations.

It was the clash of these two suspected cultists groups that led to them killing themselves around Iwhrekan, Edjophe and Jeremi/Udu junction. And on June 7th,2019 night, another person was reportedly shot but the person is said to have survived the attack in Otu-Jeremi Community. Just on Sunday June 9th, 2019, the Otu-Jeremi Police Station Officers also averted the burning-down of a filling station owned by Samson Onojechere, by suspected cultists from neighbouring Communities of Iwhrekan, Edjophe and Otu-Jeremi. The same Sunday, there was heavy shooting in Otu-Jeremi Community by suspected cultists. But the Police was able to chase them out and bring the area under control. Even the Eldest man and Head of Iwhrekan Community, who is about 100years old, was kept under the protection of the Police since June 6th, 2019, until I had to provide a vehicle for him on June 10th, 2019, so he can relocate to Warri temporarily, for fear of suspected cultists/hoodlums’ activities in the areas stated.

The cultism menace in Ughelli South LGA, Delta State was also reported in the Vanguard Newspaper of Monday June 10, 2019, where it was reported that two cultists were stoned to death by their rival gangs, which has created more tension that has enveloped Iwhrekan, Edjophe, Otu-Jeremi and other neighbouring Communities.

We believe the influential politicians and big-wigs in the three Communities of Iwhrekan, Edjophe and Otu-Jeremi are the ones allegedly behind/backing/supporting these suspected cultists/hoodlums, hence they are operating with such boldness and reckless abandon and impunity. This is a very destructive trend and development that can seriously damage the fabric of our society. However, should we all fold our hands, keep quiet and do nothing when our communities like Iwhrekan, Otu-Jeremi and Edjophe axis have been kept under a serious threat? Should we all act as if all is well, when our locals in these Communities are living in fear, and most of them no longer sleep in their homes for fear of being killed/molested by cultists? We seriously do not think so!

As political leaders, the best way to empower the locals is to set up factories, industries, and business outfits that would employ the jobless youths who are now joining cults. It is not the demonstration of political power or influence when politicians and society big-wigs are seen to be sponsoring/backing these cultism activities in Iwhrekan, Edjophe and Otu-Jeremi Communities.

The usual talk by politicians is that Zik Gbemre is a trouble maker who does not cover-up his friends or relatives, or anyone close to him suspected to be doing the wrong thing because of his advocacy. But I would rather be a lone advocate in fighting the cause of the common masses, than to have friends and relatives who are sycophants and pretenders that cannot tell our political leaders the truth as it is. I will never encourage/support evil no matter who or what is involved. I will continue to expose what is evil and report it the way I see it, regardless of who or what is concerned.

As we write this, the entire Iwhrekan Community has been deserted by the locals for fear of cultists/hoodlums and their rising wave of cultism. The Delta State Police Command and its Officers have been battling with all they’ve gotten to keep the fragile peace in Iwhrekan Community and the neighbouring towns of Edjophe and Otu-Jeremi, but the allegation right now is that it is the Edjophe, Iwhrekan and Otu-Jeremi town boys that are the real problems here because they are said to be the “willing tools” who are used by their sponsors to terrorize the neighbouring Communities with their cultism activities. Something urgent needs to be done fast to address this problem before they will start killing innocent people indiscriminately.

Zik Gbemre.
June 11, 2019

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