Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has frowned at the resurgence of cult-related clashes in the state capital.
Speaking during the weekly state executive council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday, Governor Diri restated his administration’s commitment to zero crime and criminality and warned that the government will not fold its arms and watch cultists take the laws into their hands.
He directed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of the state to work closely with the police to ensure the speedy prosecution of all those involved in cult-related activities.
The governor noted that the resurgence of cult-related activities might not be unconnected with politics as the next election cycle approaches.
The state’s helmsman advised youths of the state to avoid being used by politicians for crime and other nefarious activities, insisting that the result was shame and death.
Commenting on the just-concluded funeral of the late Ijaw icon, Pa Edwin Clark, Governor Diri appreciated President Bola Tinubu, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other leaders across the country for their support during his interment.
He described Pa Clark as a hero who lived for the oppressed and fought for a just and equitable society.
His words: “I like to appeal to our youths that their life was precious. You were not born a cultist. Remember your family and purge yourself of cultism.
“Throughout our first tenure, we successfully tackled cultism. Now that we are going into another round of election, we are beginning to notice their activities again.
“Cultism is not good for any youth. Those who want you to be a cultist, look at them. You will notice that if they were doing what you do, they would not be where they are today.
“Any Bayelsa youth involved in cult-related killings, I call on you to be born again. As we continue to call on you to move away from cultism, I have directed all security agencies to go after anyone so identified. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the issue of cultism was stopped.
“I do not want anybody to come to me on any cult-related issue. The moment they are so identified, they should be prosecuted. Honourable Attorney General, work closely with the police and those cases must be prosecuted very urgently.
“Government will continue to ensure that our state is crime free. Does it offend anybody when we say Bayelsa is the most peaceful state? If it offends anybody, we have no apologies.
“I like to use this opportunity to also thank President Bola Tinubu, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President Godswill Akpabio as well as other leaders across the country for their support during the burial of our father, Pa E.K Clark.”
