40 Youths Renounce Cult Groups, Pledge Peace in Cross River

About 40 youths in Abini Community, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, have renounced their membership of cult groups and pledged to live peacefully and obey the law. The development was announced after a sensitisation and engagement programme held on August 26, involving the Cross River State Police Command, community leaders and the LauraHope Foundation.

According to the police, the youths were associated with groups identified in the report as the Vikings, Klans and Axemen before publicly renouncing their membership. The engagement programme focused on educating young people about the dangers of cultism, drug abuse, unlawful possession of firearms and other activities that could threaten peace and security within communities.

The initiative was described as part of the Cross River State Police Command’s community-based crime prevention strategy. Police authorities said the programme was designed not only to discourage criminal activity but also to address some of the factors that can make young people vulnerable to recruitment into criminal networks.

Commissioner of Police Ajo-Geoffrey Ordue, represented at the event by a police officer, encouraged the youths to reject criminality and instead become positive contributors to peace and development in their community. Traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders were also commended for supporting the initiative.

The development highlights the increasing importance of community engagement and early intervention in addressing insecurity. Rather than relying only on arrests and enforcement, the programme focused on prevention, dialogue and cooperation between security agencies and local communities. Police authorities said they would continue combining intelligence-led policing with community partnerships to promote peace across Cross River State.