40 Cross River youths renounce cultism, embrace peace

About 40 youths in Abini Community, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, have renounced their affiliation with the Vikings, Klans and Axemen cult groups, promising to turn away from criminality and embrace peaceful and lawful living.

The youths made the commitment on 26 August 2026 at a sensitisation and community engagement programme organised by the Cross River State Police Command in partnership with the Abini Elites Association (AEA) and the LauraHope Foundation.

The AEA comprises the Clan Head and Chiefs of Abini Community.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Eitokpah, disclosed the development in a statement made available to journalists on Monday in Calabar.

He said the initiative formed part of the proactive and community-based crime prevention strategy being implemented by the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo-Geoffrey Ordue.

According to the statement, the engagement sought to educate residents, particularly young people, on the dangers associated with cultism, drug abuse, illegal possession of firearms and other forms of criminal behaviour.

“The Cross River State Police Command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo-Geoffrey Ordue, has recorded a significant breakthrough in its proactive, community-based crime prevention strategy, as about 40 youths associated with the Vikings, Klans and Axemen cult groups in Abini Community, Biase Local Government Area, renounced their membership and pledged to embrace peaceful and law-abiding lifestyles.

“The youths made the commitment on 26 August 2026 during a sensitisation and engagement programme organised by the Command in collaboration with the Abini Elites Association (AEA), comprising the Clan Head and Chiefs of Abini Community, and the LauraHope Foundation,” he said.

Ordue, who was represented at the event by the Divisional Police Officer of Yakurr Division, CSP Innocent Ayabotu, challenged the youths to abandon criminal activities and play a constructive role in the development of their community.

“Our engagement is focused on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse, unlawful possession of firearms and other social vices. I want to urge youths to reject criminality and become agents of peace and development in their community,” he stated.

The Commissioner said the development demonstrated the Command’s commitment to crime prevention through intelligence gathering, early intervention and sustained engagement with communities.

He explained that the approach was designed to tackle conditions that make young people vulnerable to recruitment by criminal networks, while strengthening intelligence-led and community-oriented policing.

Ordue also commended the traditional rulers, community leaders, the LauraHope Foundation and the youths for supporting the initiative.

He stressed that lasting security could only be achieved through shared responsibility among the Police, communities and other stakeholders.

“We will continue to combine intelligence-led enforcement with preventive interventions, strategic community engagement and partnership-driven policies to sensitise our youths to reject cultism and other forms of criminality, while encouraging them to become positive agents of peace and development within their community,” the Commissioner added.

The Command assured residents that it would sustain its preventive and enforcement measures aimed at disrupting criminal activities, protecting vulnerable youths and promoting peace across Cross River State.