Cross River government destroys properties owned by Cultists in Calabar
Gov Ben Ayade
The Cross River State government in its renewed drive to end the scourge of violent crimes in the state has commenced the destruction of properties owned and harbouring cultists and kidnappers in the state.
This follows an earlier announcement by the government where 35 persons were declared wanted for allegedly belonging to secret cult groups in the state.
Some of the houses destroyed by the government team which was lead by the State Security Adviser for the Southern Senatorial District, Ani Esin were located at Idim Ita, Bedwell Street and several other properties.
Besides the destruction of the houses, scores of cultists were also arrested by the State Anti Cultism and Kidnapping Team which was part of the team that destroyed the houses.
Cultists and kidnappers have held the state to ransom in recent times and several people have wither been killed or kidnapped particularly businessmen and medical doctors.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of the State Security Adviser, Alfred Mboto, had in a release accused the 35 persons named by the government as perpetrators of killings in Cross River that are cult related.
Mboto said: “The spate of violence and killings taking place in the Calabar metropolis over supremacy of various fraternities is alarming and unacceptable by teh government and people of Cross River State.
“In view of this development, the state has declared the persons who have been identified as the ring leaders wanted.
“The public is also informed that any house/ hotel accommodating any of these persons or any other perpetrators of the act will be will be confiscated and the owner of the property prosecuted accordingly”, he said.
Similarly, the Nigerian Navy recently handed over 42 suspected cultists to the state government for prosecution.
The suspects were arrested in Akpabuyo about 25 km from Calabar in an attempt to initiate scores of youths into cultism an operation which was busted by the Navy following a tip off.
Some residents of the state have applauded the move by the government saying it is a bold step in the right direction and a very strong message of the intent of government to end the menace of criminalities.
