Some school-based cult groups in Edo State have come together in an alliance
against the spate of kidnappings, armed robberies and other violent
crimes in the state.
The cult members, belonging to various
fraternities in schools across the state converged at the Sand Beach
Resorts, Benin, on Saturday for a summit tagged “Interactive Peace
Summit: Strategy for Social Cohesion.”
At the summit, the groups, which came
together under the aegis of Rainbow Consolidated Forum said they were
not satisfied with the spate of violent crimes and insecurity in the
state and vowed to fight the situation.
Some of the fraternities at the summit
included the Green Circuit (a.k.a Maphites), Norsemen (aka Vikings),
Black Axe, Eiye confraternity, Family Fraternity of Nigeria and Avarian
Organization of Nigeria.
Governor Adam Oshiomhole, Oba of Benin,
the Edo State Commissioner of Police, the State Security Service, and
the Commandant of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps sent
representatives to the summit of the cultists.
While acknowledging the damage already
done by the activities of the cult groups in the state, the chairman of
the Rainbow Consolidated Forum, Donald Edeoghon, said he hoped that
their coming together to fight armed robbers, kidnappers and
perpetrators of other violent crimes in Edo would yield good results.
He said, “If you remember, for over two
decades, inter-group conflicts which often resulted in violent and fatal
crisis were the attributes of Edo State communities. Innocent lives,
properties of inestimable worth are taken and destroyed on a whim. Armed
robbery, kidnapping, thuggery and sundry social vices rose to
unprecedented levels; it became dangerous to reside and function
legitimately in Edo State, and, in particular, Benin City.”
“Various efforts were made by various
groups to check this disturbing trend. Some were sincere while others
were not. They failed because their focus was eradicating inter-group
conflicts, whereas conflicts are integral part of all human societies.
The situation looked bad, but then came the platform of Rainbow
Consolidated Forum with a template for all seasons.”
- punchng
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