By Ikemefuna Asika
Ezinano community in Awka have vowed to end cultism and criminality in Awka.
This was disclosed today Wednesday 21st August, Awka by Ozor Jeff Nweke in his opening speech during the symposia with the theme ‘Combating/Preventing violent crimes and menace of cultism in Awka metropolitan city’ at Emmaus House Awka.
He decried the situation where the values Awka people are known for has all of a sudden vanished to the thin air.
Ozor Nweke maintained that the criminality and cultism activities in Awka has affected them deeply as the host community.
“We are not only crying but we are complaining that Violent crime in Awka has affected us, taking up our children, put them in grave, violent crime in Awka has affected us deeply and that is why today 21st day of August 2024 we decided to talk”.
He explained that Ezinano comprising of four quarters namely Umuokpu quarter, Amikwo quarter, Agulu quarter and Eziawka quarter. This four quarters has a total of 20 villages out of 33 villages that make Awka Community. So whatever happens affects Ezinano people.
He decried the situation where familes are loseing their loved one and the people who are commiting these crimes do it with impunity.
” One of the things happening in Awka that is strange is cultism and violent crimes. They kill people at random, they decapitate people in front of our eyes. You see mothers loosing their two, three children and it looks like the people doing are doing it with impunity.”
“We want to use this opportunity as Awka people to tell you people that we are not condoning this all these things that are happening in Awka. That we are rejecting it as violent crime has no space in this very community. In all ramification we abhore it, we don’t want it” he stated.
While acknowledging the developments in Awka as the State capital, he pointed out that a lot of activities has affected the culture and ways of life of the people and called for solutions to the menace to help Ezinano people nip the problem in the board.
According to Ozor Jeff Nweke who is also the owner of BlueShield Securty outfit, they have discovered that their youths are now cultists and what led to it is what they want to find out.
He thanked the securitye agencies that have been helping them towards fighting the menace and called for more collaboration towards putting a stop to cultism and violent crimes in Awka.
He disclosed in December this year, there will be a day for the cultists to denounce their membership of cult groups. He also advised the women to call their children to order failing which they may not partake in the goodies planned for them which include disbursement of one hundred million naira to them.
He thanked those who made out time to attend the event and promised that they will continue it at the ward and village levels.
In his remarks, the Deputy governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim represented by Chief Obi Ochije Modilim commended the effort of Ezinano in taking a proactive measure towards the security challenge in their community.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police Anambra State Command, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam represented by ACP in charge of Operations, ACP Anietie Eyo gave a wholistic overview of cult activities and called on the people to cooperate with them to find a lasting solution to the problem.
Both the NSCDC Commandant represented by the Deputy Commandant, Nnadi Francis and the representative of DSS Commander, Onyedika Nwachukwu in their various remarks called for more collaboration with the people of the community towards finding a lasting solution to the problem.
