Upata Assembly Declares War Against Cultism

Irked by the spate of criminal activities in Ahoada-East Constituency II, Upata Kingdom made up of 21 towns, has constituted a Security Committee to liaise with law enforcement agencies in fishing out perpetrators of heinous crimes in the area.

This was the outcome of an Upata Assembly meeting held at Edeoha town, the political headquarters of the constituency on Saturday and facilitated by the lawmaker representing the area at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ibiso Nwuche.

Announcing the resolution of the meeting after an intensive deliberation, an opinion leader in the area, Mr Pedro Egbe said cases of kidnap and cult clashes were on the increase, and that people have resolved to set up a Committee that would identify suspects within their various communities and involve the security agencies in dealing with them.

Mr Egbe explained that the people had earlier canvassed traditional approach of confronting the parents of suspects or ostracise them from the community but superior argument punctured the idea.

He, however said that the names of the committee members to work with security agencies would not be made public because of the sacred and serious nature of their assignment.

According to him, “we want to ensure that we move Upata kingdom forward by ensuring peaceful coexistence,” adding that the meeting also deliberated on the procedure for the emergence of Eze Upada whose stool has been declared vacant following the death and burial of Eze C. Nwuche.

In a chat with The Tide, Hon. Ibiso Nwuche, said he was moved to initiate the meeting because his Constituency had experienced an high level of criminality such as kidnapping and cult-related fighting for the last one year.

Hon Nwuche hinted that the stool of his late father that became vacant had started to generate division among the people, hence the need to hold the meeting made up of chiefs, CDC members, opinion leaders and youths to streamline issues.

The lawmaker remarked that the issue of crime had been addressed, adding that the Dvisional Police Officer (DPO), the JTF and State Security Service were present to hear the resolutions of the congress of the people in zero tolerance to crime.

On the vacant stool, he said it is not hereditary and the guidelines for ascendance are simple enough for everybody to understand, and denied eyeing the office.

High Chief James Balike, commended the lawmaker for the initiative, noting that cases of kidnapping and cultism were on the increase, and expressed satisfaction that the measure taken would stem the ugly trend.

Eze Friday Eze said the people had declared the stool vacant beginning Saturday, and urged the interested persons to comply with the guidelines produced in 1987 which specify conditions to the occupant of Eze Upata stool, adding that the process would be done in a peaceful, fair and credible manner.

He urged youths to desist from anti-social vices and engage in meaningful activities, otherwise the leadership of the kingdom would ensure that they are brought to book.