By Chinedu Amede
KWALE/Nigeria: The Utagba Ogbe Kingdom in Ndokwa West Local Government Area has declared a zero-tolerance stance on cultism, signaling tough times ahead for any cult-related activities within the kingdom. According to the President General of the Utagba Ogbe youths, Comrade Opia Raphael, various strategies, including invoking traditional deities, have been set in motion to curb the activities of cultists in the area.
In an interview with The Pointer in Kwale, Comrade Opia expressed deep concern over the negative impact of cultism on the kingdom’s reputation. He lamented that the lives lost in cult-related violence could have otherwise contributed positively to their families, communities, and society at large. Comrade Opia urged the youths to recognize their potential roles as future leaders and to distance themselves from any associations or activities that could jeopardize their futures.
He called on the leaders of the six communities within the kingdom to collaborate with the youths in the fight against cultism, emphasizing the need for a unified front to eradicate this menace. Comrade Opia, who also serves as the President of Ogbeani Community Youths, highlighted the readiness of the youths to tackle other forms of criminality in the area, describing them as the “soldiers” of their communities. He urged oil companies operating in their domain, as well as government authorities, to prioritize youth employment as a means of steering them away from criminal activities.
While commending Midwestern Oil and Gas PLC for its contributions to the community, including road construction, the renovation of the Town Hall, and the building of the Okpala Uku Palace, Comrade Opia stressed that much more needs to be done for the development of the kingdom.
He called for the empowerment of elders and women, noting that the community’s farmlands have been taken over by oil companies, leaving the indigenes with limited means of livelihood.
