By Our Reporter
Residents of Utagba-Ogbe (Kwale) a Cosmopolitian Headquarters of Ndokwa West Local Government Area in Delta State, Particularly the business and Political Class, have been apprehensive of every moment of the hours and days as members of the various cult groups have been in a raging wars since early this year (2015) For visitors and other tourists, it would be strange but for the indigenes and other inhabitants, the oil rich Kwale metropolis remains a den of cultists of different groups. Levels and doctrines.
At least not fewer than ten (10) cult related deaths have been recorded in the town within the past couple of months. This raging cultists war has grounded all socio-political and economic life of the people, for example the two daily markets at umusadege (Evening market) and along Isumpe Road, respectively dismiss as early as 7 O’clock pm instead of the usual time of 9.30pm to 10pm. In addition, the common man’s means of movement at accessable cost (Okada) operators terminate their service at 7 O’clock pm, thereby making it difficult for socio-politcal and commercial activities to thrive.
A detail investigation into the situation could not reveal the root cause of the cultists grievance, but the serial and cold blood killings have given rise to insecurity and uncertainty among the cultists and non-cultists alike. Nobody is anymore sure of the next moment and victim because some deceased victims were killed by stray bullets. Some residents interviewed, who pleaded to be anonymous, regretted that majority of the cultists are unschooled, a situation they attributed to loose parental cares. Others said that Delta State government is weak in the fight against cultism, and requested for death sentence for a cultist.
Some of the community leaders spoken with, alleged that “as long as some of the bigmen pickins dey inside the secret cults, e-go dey difficult to stop them, because some of the bigmen dey inside” Eye witnesses of some of the killings described the blood thirsty cultists as ranging between Nine years and Twenty Five years of age. They are most times armed and operate mostly in the evenings when they emerge from hideouts, hunt and kill their targets, who are largely their opponent Cult members. What agitates the minds of majority of Kwale residents is the fact that despite huge presence of military personnels, men of Nigeria police and the presence of Local vigilante the cultists take the streets with impurity (Some times masked).
A section of the public explained that the cult killings seemed retaliatory among the members and opponents of the various cult groups, their orientation and guns were provided by some politicians during electionary contests and urged the said politicians to call their boys to order for peace to reign. Some parents and opinion leaders appealed to the Federal State and Local Governments to intervene immidately in order to check futher escalation of the scourge, otherwise it will go out of hand. A visit to Kwale Police station for a check proved abortive as the Divisional police officer (DPO) was said to have been on casual leave, but some security men on ground claimed to have tried their best to no avail, they explained that the situation required community and traditional approach and partnership with the security operatives in order to succeed.
At the time of filing this report no week passed without two or Three Cult related killings, this potends danger for the socio-political and economic growth of the town and its inhabitants who are mainly non-indigenous traders of Igbo, Isoko, Ijaw, Urhobo. Hausa and Yoruba extractions. The earlier the community leaders and elites step up action against cultism, the better for both the native and non-natives. The government, through the politicians should also chest out for the war.
At present there is dusk to dawn curfew in the town.
