Combined security team of the army, navy and the police has intervened to restore normalcy to the ancient Sapele town, after few days cultists reigned supreme in the area with deaths recorded.
Tension had enveloped Sapele residents in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State following renewed rival cult war that led to the death of 3 suspected cultists in less than 48 hours.
NewsNet learnt that the tensed security situation had also forced many residents to start relocating to neighbouring Jesse and Mosogar communities in Ethiope West Local Government Area for fear of been caught up in the crossfire.
Speaking exclusively to NewsNet on Thursday morning, the Chairman of Sapele Local Government, Chief Eugene Inoaghan said the situation has been brought under control and residents of the town need not to panic again.
“A combined security team of the mobile police, navy and the army has swung into action, conducting stop and search.
“If you have vehicles that don’t have plate numbers moving at night that will not be taken likely because people who do this rubbish don’t have plate numbers and drive with tinted glasses.
“We swung into action for some days now, the place is relatively peaceful and we have not recorded any incident.
“It is not just a one-day thing, it is going to be a continuous routine security search and there will be peace as well as restoration of normal economic activities in this area,” Inoaghan assured the people.
On how the cult activities assumed a worrisome situation in Sapele, Inoaghan said, “Certainly when cult boys want to misbehave, you can’t really preempt them. When they have their issues within themselves, when they start misbehaving we need to be proactive to ensure that it does not continue.
“The place is calm already, I go on patrol with the security agents. When the residents of the area saw the combined security agents swinging into action they were very happy.
“The intervention of the security agents was very apt and timely as some persons wanted to take undue advantage of the situation to take to robbery and kidnapping,” Inoaghan stated.
The Sapele Council boss in a statement on Wednesday read a riot act to the cultists who have been terrorizing residents of Sapele.
“Anyone seen threatening people with and or fighting with knives, machetes, battleaxe or any firearms, will be regarded as cultists and would be dealt with decisively. All parents/guardians of known cultists are hereby warned to advise their children and wards to renounce membership of cults. And if any of their children or wards are caught, they(parents) shall be held accountable for the evil deeds of their children or wards.”
The Chairman stated further that members of vigilante groups in the town who are caught compromising with laid down security procedures or practices by way of aiding or abetting, shall be arrested and dealt with accordingly.
“Henceforth, no person, parent or guardian will be allowed to take on bail, his or her child or ward who have been caught engaging in any cult-related activity,” said Inoaghan.
