The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nasarawa State Command, recently made a significant achievement in the fight against cultism by arresting over 21 cultists in the different locations in Lafia the State Capital.
The operation, which was carried out by the gallant men of the Command, after credible information was received about the nefarious activities of criminals in the state, which lead to the dead of one Mr. Musa at Rimi-Uku Doma road in Lafia, on Sunday 12th November 2023 by suspected cultists.
The State Commandant Abbas Bappa Muhammad, deployed men of the intelligence department across the nooks and crannies of Lafia metropolis with the sole purpose of smoking and fishing out these criminals, whose activity in recent times is worrisome as residents no longer sleep with their eyes close.
In his words, ‘Cultism has been a major concern in Nigeria, with its negative impact on the society, especially among young people. Cult groups often engage in various criminal activities, such as violence, robbery, drug trafficking, and even murder. These activities pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of individuals and the communities, the NSCDC in Nasarawa State Command will not rest until these criminals are apprehended and face full wrath of the law, he said.
Through intelligence gathering and strategic operations, our men were able to identify and apprehended members of different cult groups in Lafia the state capital.
Nasarawa State is bordered by States that have cases of cultism and other social vises, which they find and easy path in trans-border crimes and criminality, the NSCDC will not allow this trend to continue, any body found wanting will face the wrath of the law no matter how highly place in the society.
This successful operation has been attributed to the dedication and professionalism of the officers involved. The arrested cultists are currently in custody and will face the full weight of the law.
This will send a strong message to other cult groups and potential recruits that their activities will not be tolerated in the state. It also serves as a deterrent to those who might consider engaging in cult-related activities, the NSCDC Boss vowed.
In addition to the arrests, the NSCDC in Nasarawa State has also intensified its efforts to prevent and mitigate cult activities. We have increased our patrols in vulnerable areas, conducted awareness campaigns, and collaborated with other stakeholders, such as schools, religious and community leaders, to discourage involvement in cultism.
The NSCDC’s efforts in combating cultism will not develop cold feet as the command is strategizing new methods to mitigate the reoccurrences of identified crimes, this will play a crucial role in maintaining peace and security in Nasarawa State. However, it is important to recognize that eradicating cultism requires a multi-faceted approach, he said.
The recent arrests made by the Command in Nasarawa State provide hope for a safer and more secure environment for the residents; arrested suspects will be charged to court and prosecuted accordingly. The quest to reduce crime and criminal activities in the state continues and the NSCDC will not relent in her efforts to stamp out cultism in Nasarawa state. In his words I want residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or individuals that may threaten their security, he concluded.