Pockets of security breaches in parts of the Niger Delta in recent times call for immediate attention if the Federal Government’s Amnesty  Programme would not  be in vain. As experienced before the emergence of militancy, youth bodies have started active cult and gang activities in the Niger Delta.

But more troublesome is the current re-involvement of the Niger Delta youth in illegal oil bunkering and the apparent struggle for supremacy and territory. So worrisome, we understand that some young people dwelling in some parts of a city now feel unsafe to reach other parts for fear of possible attacks.  This should worry the authorities.

We are aware of some efforts being made by the Rivers State Government for instance to avert a resurgence of youth restiveness. Indeed, the demolition of the Abonnema Wharf slum at the Mile 1 Diobu Area of Port Harcourt was said to be an intervention in that direction.

Similarly, some alleged cultists operating at the Elechi beach area of Diobu have also had their property destroyed, while the Chairman of Eleme Local Government was also constrained to impose a curfew to deter rival youth cult groups in the area.

Also worthy of note is the apparent offensive on illegal bunkering, criminal refining and transportation of stolen petroleum products across the Niger Delta. But we think that a lot more needs to be done to fully re-direct the energies of the youth.

In the first place, we are disappointed that security breaches of this magnitude would be allowed to assume a ground swell under the watchful  eyes  of the Joint  Task Force (JTF) stationed at strategic places and communities in the Niger Delta.

The Tide believes that the situation which has started affecting  the peace of some local communities may not afterall be a case of pampering but one of mutual economic benefit of the parties at play.  If this continues, the violent eruption of the Niger Delta may only be moments away.

Of course, to protect their illegal business, the cult groups will acquire more guns, drugs and recruit many to swell their ranks as the days go by.  Thus emboldened, they will intimidate lawful authorities and even try to infiltrate the government of the day. In fact, in some places, there is already name dropping  to the effect that legitimate officers of state may be backing separate groups.

This is where it becomes very important for the security agencies and the governments of the Niger Delta States to do something quickly to sustain the gains achieved some years ago. The zero-tolerance for cultism and illegal bunkering must be made abundantly clear at every opportunity.

Apart from the avoidable loss of lives and living – day fear that ravaged the population, the failure of the authorities to keep  the brewing security challenges  in check, will endlessly pollute the environment, corrupt the youth and make life meaningless in the region.

Already, the value system of the region has been altered beyond words and the prevailing poverty in a place that produces much for her country had tended to support the adoption of negative life styles. Indeed, some of the youth leaders are becoming even bigger and more influential.

Some of the reasons for this development is the failure of some of the youth to understand government’s inclusive tactics for what it truly is. In fact, the use of some of them as security or surveillance contractors by the oil and gas firms also appears to have been misunderstood and abused.

While we call on parents, community heads and opinion leaders to call the youth in the region to order, we think the security agencies need to do much more. They cannot pretend to be un-mindful of the criminal empire being rebuilt in parts of the region.

The security agencies must be clear as to who they owe allegiance, the one they must protect and the ones they must pull down. To play a double game and allow the existence of other power centres for whatever reason cannot be accepted. Certainly, not when a backlash would spare nobody, not even the indigent natives.

We still expect the Federal Government to put the post amnesty promises in place, but until then no one should  forget the need for a sane, safe and progressive society. Any state where laws are blindfolded and the perverts given the air of legitimacy cannot serve the best interest of all.

That is why a very conscious effort must begin and with reasonable force to check youth cultism and involvement in illegal bunkering.  Apart from the fact that they are killing the environment and themselves, the ill-refined products they pump into the market kill even more.

The Niger Delta has gone through so much and so much has also been given for its peace.  Let no one or any ephemeral consideration take the region to that ugly past where life meant very little.