CP Ordue’s Proactiveness: About 40 Youths in Cross River Renounce Cultism, Embrace Peace

CP Ordue’s Proactiveness: About 40 Youths in Cross River Renounce Cultism, Embrace Peace

By Gabriel Kekong, Calabar

Calabar (Core Reporters)– About 40 youths associated with the Vikings, Klans and Axemen cult groups in Abini Community, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, have renounced their membership of the groups and pledged to embrace peaceful and law-abiding lifestyles, Core Reporters report.

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

The engagement focused on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse, unlawful possession of firearms and other forms of criminality capable of undermining peace and security in the community.

Representing the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geofery Ordue, at the event, the Divisional Police Officer, Yakurr Division, CSP Innocent Ayabotu, urged youths to reject cultism and other criminal activities and instead become positive agents of peace, security and development in their communities.

Some of the youths, while speaking during the engagement, disclosed that they had been deceived or pressured into joining cult groups. They subsequently renounced their membership and pledged to disengage from cult-related activities, support peace and security in Abini and discourage other young people from joining criminal associations.

The development, according to the Cross River State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata underscores CP Ordue’s proactive and community-based approach to policing, which prioritises crime prevention, intelligence gathering, community partnership and early intervention to tackle factors that facilitate the recruitment of young people into criminal networks.

The initiative is also in line with the Command’s DCIIDDT policing framework, particularly its emphasis on intelligence-led and community-oriented policing.

The Commissioner of Police commended the traditional rulers, community leaders, the LauraHope Foundation and the youths for their cooperation and commitment to peace.

He stressed that sustainable security could only be achieved through collective responsibility and effective collaboration among the Police, communities and other stakeholders.

The Command assured residents of Cross River State that it would continue to combine intelligence-led enforcement with preventive interventions, strategic community engagement and partnership-driven policing to disrupt criminal activities, protect vulnerable youths and sustain peace and security across the state.