The immediate past chairman of Warri South Local Government Area in Delta State, Dr Michael Tidi, has condemned the senseless cult killings going on in the council area.
Tidi, who made the condemnation in a statement on Thursday while reacting to Wednesday’s killing of three persons at Egbokodo axis in Ubeji community, said: “These killings must stop”.
He, therefore, called on all community leaderships and stakeholders as a matter of urgency, volunteer information to security agencies about the whereabouts of criminal elements in their communities with a view to apprehending them.
The statement read: “This cult killing is getting too much. On Monday, somebody was killed in Merogun. This evening one person was shot at Ekurede Itsekiri community. I was told he was the Secretary of the youth leadership of that community. Again, about forty minutes ago, three persons were gunned down at Egbokodo axis in Ubeji, in Warri South.
“I want to call on the community leaders and all stakeholders to volunteer information to the security agencies about these criminals in their community.
“They should rid their communities of these bad eggs because the police and the army are not spirits.
“They need the information to be able to do their work because they do not reside in these communities.
“The communities should not be too quick to condemn Government and law enforcement agents when things like this happen. They should set their priorities straight and help themselves by volunteering information to security agents.
“I also want all well-meaning Waferians to come together and condemn these actions.
“Nobody should use the unavailability of jobs as a reason for committing these heinous crimes. Criminally should be condemned in its strongest terms.
“In fact, the government of today led by Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has put up so many skills acquisition programmes for our youths.
“The amnesty programme I still going on which the youths can take advantage of to go to school. How many of these youths are taking advantage of the STEP and YAGEB programmes of the State Government.
“For instance, revenue committees are being set up by local governments every year. I just did mine before stepping aside briefly. How many of these youths came forward to take up these jobs?
“So, no economic reasons should be advanced for these killings. Cultism is evil and it should be condemned by all, including our spiritual leaders. The church should not relent in preaching against this menace.”
