Anthony Iwuoma
The Government of Akwa Ibom State has proscribed 51 cult groups, operating in various schools in the state.
Following increasing spate of violent clashes, the state government issued a new proscription order on Monday, banning the 51 cult groups and societies in all schools in the state apart from the earlier proscription order in 2018.
The latest ban, entitled: “Cultism and Other Violent Behavior (Prohibition) Order”, which was signed by Governor Udom Emmanuel in Uyo, became effective on March 16, 2020.
The affected groups are: The Luttox, Red Skins, St. Stephens, Dewell, Sept 11 Group, Secret Sons of Satan, King Cobra, J.V (Junior Vikings), Bats, Predators, Black Ladies, Black Cross, Scavengers, Skylolo, Sons of Nights, Blood Brotherhood, Junior, Buccaneers, White Angels and Musket,
Daughters of Queen Amina, Lion, Leo Lion, Neo Black Movement of Africa, Temple of Eden and Daughters of Jezebel. Also affected are: Amazon, Black Brazier, Barracudas, Black Beret, The Dragon, Red devil, Blood Suckers, Scorpion, Black Eye, Eyie, Sons of Nights, White Angels, Yellow Ribbon and Python.
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Others include Black Sword, Supreme Dred Lock, Black Heart, Black Dagger, White Brothers, High Mafia, Street Mafia, Family Mafia, Supreme Red Skin, Italian Mafia and Separate Brothers Confraternity and Clansmen.
Those proscribed in 2018 include Vikings, Black Axe, KKK, Buccaneers, Mafias, Luttox (Junior Black Axe), Debam, Dewell, Icelanders, Red Skins, Pirates, Amoc, Akwa Marines and Utoto Groups (419).
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested 34 suspected cultists in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nnudam Fredrick, who disclosed this development on Friday, said the raid was in line with the proscription order signed by the governor on Monday.
Consequently, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal, ordered District Police Officers, DPOs, to move against the groups.
Fredrick said: “Operatives of the Command identified and raided cultists rendezvous in Uruan Local Government Area, Uyo plaza and 101 Estate in Uyo Local Government, where 34 suspected cultists were arrested.
“The Commissioner of Akwa Ibom State reiterates that in the coming days, additional bites would be given to the law against cultism.”
He also said the police boss had charged the the residents to support the police in their efforts to make the place safer, adding that the CP instructed various heads of the police personnel in the state to intensify the fight against cultists and their sponsors with intention to arrest and bring them to book.
