Anambra State Police Commissioner, CP Aderemi Adeoye over the weekend, vowed to clamp down on cultists running amok in the State Capital, Awka.
Cult killings in the state capital have gone out of hand, with over 12 deaths resulting from rival cult clashes recorded in the past two weeks.
The victims are young people within the ages of 17 and 36, some indigenes and others just residents.
TNC findings have also shown that there were less cult activities in the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, located in the state capital, than there are on the streets of the town.
Some natives, especially young people between the ages of 16, 17, 18 and 19 years, have become members of the deadly gangs and engaged each other daily, resulting in the deaths.
The availability of the locally-made pistols popularly known as ‘Awka-made’ due to the black smithing prowess of the town, has also been identified as having aided the killings, as most youths have access to the guns.
Further investigation has revealed that most men from the community especially cultists and those related to them, have deserted the town and are taking refuge in neighbouring states, as the wars rage.
Speaking on the ugly development, the Anambra Police Commissioner, who described the cultists as murderers, said they are not fit to live among decent human beings in the society.
He described those sponsoring the cultists to kill humans like them as cowards who should cover their faces in shame.
Adeoye vowed that the Police Command will come down very hard on the heartless cultists who take pleasure in killing people.
“I want to warn that no one should call me for release of any cultist arrested in the coming clamp down unless they want to be disgraced,” Adeoye threatened.
The Commissioner also said he has ordered an all-out operation against cultists and their sponsors in the State.
He assured people of Anambra State that their peace and tranquility that was punctured by the recent cult-related killing in the capital will soon be restored.
“I therefore solicit the cooperation of all law abiding citizens in ridding the society of the menace of cultism,” the Anambra Police boss pleaded.
