No fewer than 30 suspected cultists who were arrested in various parts of Anambra State and subsequently counselled and freed after being investigated by the Special Anti Cultism Squad (SPACS) of the State Police Command have paid an unscheduled visit to the SPACS headquarters in the state to show gratitude for saving their lives and integrating them back to the society as responsible persons.
Speaking at the event on behalf of the counselled cult members, a 300 level student in one of the tertiary institutions in the state who pleaded for anonymity prayed for God’s blessing upon the SPACS Commander who spearheaded the counselling process.
In his words, “God will bless the SPACS Commander, Mr. Christopher Bassey, for making us to return back to normal way of living as useful members of the society through counselling, not torture.
“I was personally arrested over cultism related offence and after investigation and counselling, that lasted for three days, I was freed, so I came back with some of the counselled ones to thank Mr. Bassey and his men for returning us to a responsible life and we pledge not to deviate again.”
While stating their resolve to live a good life devoid of cultism, the 300 level student said that they were not the first batch that came with their parents/guardians saying that some came individually.
The SPACS Commander urged the students to remain of good behaviour as they have pledged.
He advised parents to always monitor the kind of company their children keep even while ensuring that they always draw them close to the home by not living apart from them.
Bassey said a minimum of ten suspected cultists are arrested on daily basis, adding that the arrests were made possible because they carry the raid to their hide outs.
His words: “Parents should endeavour to keep their children close, so as to be able to monitor their movement and associations, not when the father is in Port Harcourt, the mother is in Asaba and the children will be left alone in the parent’s home in Onitsha.
“On daily basis we arrest at least 10 suspected cultists because we go after them. We carry the raid to their hideout and that is why we have been succeeding in the war against cultism.
“The hardened ones when arrested we arraign in court and any one found
In possession of firearms, guns, we transfer to Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) those without serious involvement in cultism we counsel for days or weeks to help place them under monitoring and as you can see, after counselling they will realize that what they were involved in is not beneficial to them but will rather endanger their health as a result of the influence of hard drug they consume.
“It is not every cultist that is a kidnapper or armed robber but every armed robber or kidnapper is a cultist and every cultist has a bush name he answers.”
Bassey, who is a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), noted that those prone to cultism were mostly teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17, adding that it is hard for a14 years cultist to be a kidnapper.
He also explained that such under aged cultists when arrested are counselled and returned back to the society.
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