When it comes to social vices anywhere in the world, it is
the youths that are most vulnerable as victims of this act since they are the ones that have the energy, zeal, passion and time to experiment on issues of life. They are also the ones that are readily available for people to manipulate to achieve their selfish gains, positively or negatively. To further compound the issue, the influx of unemployed youths to the streets is so alarming that even the government can not ascertain their number. This is to say that there are so many idle youths roaming the states and cities of our great country with nothing to lay their hands on.
There is a phrase that says an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Since the government has refused to take the plight and suffering of the people seriously by providing jobs for the teeming graduates of our polytechnic and universities yearly, what do they expect the youths to do when they have left school as there is no job to keep them busy? Moreso where does the government expect these youths to get the finances to cater for their aged parents that saw them through school? This is where the commission of crime comes in, because somehow people have to earn a living.
On Friday, the 12th  of February 2016, Omoku Town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area was thrown into turmoil as gunmen, numbering about 40 armed with weapons and marches stormed the town about 7pm. They started shooting and killing people. While some people were beheaded, others had machete cuts inflicted on them. The Rivers State Police Command said it was a battle for supremacy between rival cult groups that led to the killing of about 20 persons, and beheading of six out of the victims.
In Omoku town a commercial motorcycle rider was interviewed. His name is Emma Oyaku: He stated that Omoku town was a ghost of itself because the town was empty as everybody had deserted for fear of their safety. He further highlighted that it was cult clash between rival groups, but politicians hijacked the system to use the boys to achieve their political aims. A source who narrated the incident to a reporter on the condition of anonymity, said that the hoodlums took over the town for 3 hours without any resistance from security operatives in the area.
The Commissioner for Youth Development in Rivers State, Princewill Gbogbola, said that the youths should indulge in meaningful activities and shun violence, because violence hampers the development of any society.
A security expert, Brigadier General Wariboye (Rtd) stated that the security situation in Rivers State is caused by poor family background, lack of direction undue emphasis on materialism by the youths, which has given birth to cultism and which politicians took advantage of and exploited them.
I think the Government’s attitude of not paying attention to the needs of the people is deliberate, because they know that if they really put infrastructure in place it will better the lives of the people. Then it will not be easy for the people to be manipulated into any social vices, because the politicians will find it difficult to use them for their selfish aims.
So they prefer things to be at a state of disarray so they can constantly be influencing the people towards achieving their selfish objectives, especially during election period.
But let me quickly bring the situation of the northern part of Nigeria, Maiduguri precisely, where the terrorist group called Boko Haram sect has taken over a particular village, and they even pinned their flag, which means they have come to stay. Not to mention the countless attacks they have unleashed on the states across the northern part of Nigeria. I believe that there was a time when this Boko Haram menace was at its elementary stage, then it would have been easily nipped in the bud. But the government handled it with kid gloves, as during that period they were tools in hands of some highly placed politicians. But as at today it has gone beyond the control of politicians, as this terrorist group has pledged allegiance to a foreign terrorist group called ISIS. It is now the federal government is pleading with them to come for discussion so they can state their reasons for the destruction of lives and properties. The federal government has even proposed amnesty to them, but this dreaded terrorist group bluntly refused because it has passed that stage.
I must commend the governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, who stated during his visit to Omoku town that he is not in support of any cult group: He asked the people to live in peace and harmony. He called on the security agencies to arrest and prosecute anybody caught aiding and abetting any cult member in Omoku town. He further insisted that anybody caught perpetrating any form of violence should be brought down by the security agencies, that he is solidly behind them because he wants peace and stability to reign in Omoku town, for so that development to take place.
I totally support the move by the governor to ensure peace in the area, but I want to use this medium to plead with the Rivers State Government to follow every developmental project with sincerity and honesty, so that their efforts will get to the common man in the society. This is because if you have not given a man a source of livehood, you have not truly empowered him. It is only when the people get proper representation, and they are reaping benefits from it, that crime can reduce to its barest minimum.
Inokoba wrote in from Port Harcourt.

Kellen Okwu