On the heels of the recent cult related disturbances in several parts of Cross River State, an Abuja based Socio-Cultural organization, the Umor-Otutu Socio-Cultural Organization, says it is committed to confronting the menace of cultism first, in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River Central, before taking on the entire state.
At a well organized anti-cultism rally, held in Ugep, New Year day, 2018, the organization lamented that most youths in the area are drawn to cultism because there appears to be a failed system in place that has simply manifested in this unfortunate attraction. The organization frowned at the mayhem visited on the entire communit and importantl revealed that it will also push for the arrest and prosecution of suspected cultists as a way of discouraging this painful attraction to cultism.
Okoi Obono-Obla, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, on Public Prosecutions, present at the occasion, promised to help facilitate the legal processes that will help arrest and prosecute cultists and further conducted a solemn few minutes in memory of all those from the area who have died through cult related violence.
At the Obol Ubi Ujong Memorial Conference Centre, where participants all retired to, Nkoyo Oka, the Public Health Care coordinator, Yakurr LGA, renowned sociologists and brain training expert, Ben Arikpo, Professor of Sociology in the University of Ibadan, Oka Martin Obono, who addressed the teeming youths, all made inspiring speeches to help raise the awareness on the socio-economic impact of secret cults, drug abuse and addiction within the area. Obono, the university don, came clear that while it is near impossible to determine who among the youths will be drawn to and eventually join one cult group or the other, the society must make a deliberate effort have more than enough role models that these youths will begin to look up to.
Ugep urban youth leader, Ewa Stephen George, who spoke with www.calitown.com, expressed happiness that finally elites in the area are focusing attention on helping him and the traditional institution combat the menace of cultism in the area and commended especially, the Umor Otutu Socio-Cultural Organization for taking the bull by the horns.
The event which was preceded by a hugely successful 25Km sensitization walk round the major streets of Ugep, looks set to be held annually to tackle perceived societal ills in the area.
