Cultism requires concerted efforts to eradicate — Police Commissioner

The Commissioner of Police in Edo, Phillip Ogbadu, said in Benin on Wednesday that cultism in the state required concerted efforts to resolve.

He told our reporter that there was the need for all stakeholders, especially parents, guardians and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to sensitise the public and students on the ills of cultism.

He said this was because eradicating cultism was not an individual’s assignment but the responsibility of all.

“There is the need for all leaders, parents and the NOA to come together and work hard to save the situation.

“Cultism leads to social vices. Cultists go into robbery to finance other crimes,

“Cultism is an organised crime that needs all hands on deck to eradicate and parents have greater responsibility to shield children away from cultism,” he said.

He said the number of suspected cultists arrested in the state on daily basis was alarming.

Ogbadu assured that the police in Edo were very responsive to issues of insecurity and noted that farmers and herders conflicts needed serious attention also.

He said criminal elements involved in farmers and herders clashes would be treated as such without applying ethnic or tribal sentiments.

He sued for peace in the state saying it was fundamental to development.

“Without security, there cannot be any development and there cannot be peace.

“You need peace and security to govern and you also need peace and security for you to carry out business transactions and even worship, so security is key and very fundamental for the development in any society.

“I implore all of us to come together, irrespective of whatever views we may have in terms of approach to how insecurity should be resolved.

“We should all be seen to be working together in evolving a synergy and a template for resolving all of these conflicts,” Ogbadu said.