Cultism:Monarch Wants Military Checkpoints In Rivers Community

The Nye-Nweli Egbeda/Ubimini Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Christopher Nlerem Didia, has called on the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, to prevail upon the Brigade Commander of the Military Cantonment in Bori Camp to deploy soldiers in Egbeda to check the killings by cult groups.
Didia, who made the call while chatting with newsmen in Port Harcourt at the weekend, expressed regrets that rivalry between cult groups in the community had unsettled the peace they once had in the area.
He explained that cultism had wreaked havoc in the community by making many indigenes to flee the town in the wake of bloody rivalries.
The paramount ruler told newsmen that unless there was intervention on the part of both the federal and state governments the community might be reduced to rubbles.
He said cultism in the area was sponsored by some faceless citizens who do not have the community’s interest at heart.
He said he and his wife narrowly escaped death when a notorious cult group destroyed his palace and residence and killed two persons in his part of the community and forcing him to relocate from the community.
Didia noted that he had made efforts to pacify the community by bringing contingents of policemen to fish out the cultists and prosecute them.
He said most of his efforts were not supported by other well-meaning members of the community.
The paramount ruler, who described himself as a devout Christian said he had engaged indigenous pastors and others shepherding their flocks in the community to broker peace between rival cult groups and pointed out that the move was yielding fruits.
He said at present truce had been brokered  by the cult groups.
The monarch has stated that he did not have an inkling to the mass arrest in the community in which several innocent citizens of the community were taken away, but remarked that activities of the cultists were mostly at night.
The paramount ruler warned his detractors to give peace a chance or be prepared to face prosecution.
He said that he remained the paramount ruler of the Egbeda/Ubimini Community having been recognised by the state government and classified as a 2nd class traditional ruler in the state.
Also speaking, a member of Egbeda Community Development Committee, Mr John Amadi, described the monarch as a pacificist who has contributed to the development of the community and urged all to support his efforts to restore peace in the area.
Mr Amadi noted that it was foolish for anybody to breach the peace in the community because of parochial interests.
Amadi, who is also an executive of the Ogbakor Ikwerre Convention, expressed regrets that some faceless citizens were sponsoring the killings in the community.
Other personalities that attended the paramount ruler’s media interview included the Egbeda Council of Chiefs’ Secretary, Chief Nnamdi Ohia, the Youth President, Comrade Bartholomew Wuche and a businessman, Mr C. D. Obua.
In a related development, the Vice President of Egbeda Pastors Fellowship, Pastor Felix Enyie has told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the warring cult groups, Icelanders and Dey Gbam have reached a truce to let peace reign in Egbeda community.
Pastor Enyie, who stated this in a phone chat said the truce which was brokered by the Pastors Fellowship was aimed at restoring peace to the beleaguered communities.
He said the both groups have agreed to sign an undertaking to be of good conduct.
According to him, the repented cultists say they are ready for meaningful employment.
Pastor Enyie, however urged the state government and other employers of labour to join hands to perfect the amnesty programme.

Chidi Enyie