SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Police Command, has called on Anambra residents to join the Police in the fight against cultism and other vices.
Ikenga said that the Command is committed to making sure that the Cult menace is reduced to the barest minimum in the state.
The call is contained in a press statement he made available to journalists in Awka on Friday
The statement reads “In this episode 1, we will discuss why people join cult groups.”
Ikenga listed factors that induce cultism in youths to include poor parental and Home Background.
He said that participation in cult activities may be influenced by parents’ involvement in similar activities.
On Societal decay: “There is a mad rush to acquire wealth and power amongst the adults so the youths see such behaviour as normal and picks on it.”
Emotional Sickness: Children who have emotional sickness tend to be depressed and frustrated with life, and In an attempt to express their anger against neglect, they may join cult groups to unleash terror on the society that has caused them emotional pain.”
Peer Group Influence:
“Motivation for joining cults may come from peer group influence. Some students have become cultists because their friends lured them into joining to be respected.”
He said that most times these young minds get support from highly-placed individuals in the society with intentions to please them and get some gratification.
Inadequate Religious and Moral Education: Some parents have abandoned their responsibilities in the area of moral upbringing of their children because of the craze for material wealth.
They hardly show interest in the educational/academic progress of their children. Such parents do not attend parents’ fora and meetings.
In some institutions, officials play the role of grand patron to some cult groups and also sponsor them. The student cultists are used against several members of the community for selfish reasons.
Ikenga said that the police command is
worried over the rate at which cultism practices spread in the state and appealed to residents to synergise with police Campaign Against Cultism and other Vices (POCACOV) in this advocacy.
