In recent times, barely no week passes without an ugly incident of cult-related attacks resulting in casualties in Awka, the Anambra State capital, South-East Nigeria.
The situation has heightened the already tensed state of insecurity, putting residents, especially the business community in a panic mood.
There is no doubt that Nigeria is facing several degrees and dimensions of security challenges across the 36 states and the even Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. However, the peculiar cult war in Awka, Anambra State is particularly worrisome.
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The Anambra State administrative capital city is recently experiencing a resurgence of cult wars, with brutal killings allegedly occuring almost daily within the Awka metropolis.
Unconfirmed reports put the casualty figure in just a week of the month of April 2024, at seven, reportedly mulled at different spots including the ever busy Unizik junction.
The social life and business activities are hard hit by the escalating insecurity in Awka as most people operate in fear and apprehension.
While many residents declined to speak for fear of been attacked by the suspected cult members, a few told AIT.live that they are worried about the situation, demanding for urgent intervention by the authorities.
Tochukwu Ikenga who is the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Command however says that people are blowing the situation out of proportion. He insists that no official report has been made on such attacks and killings, noting that the Command in collaboration with other security agencies has since arrested over 40 suspected cult members.
Special Adviser on Public Relations to the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Emmanuel Ojukwu who turned down a TV interview, however debunked speculations that the killings of young people in Awka metropolis was a result of rival cult clashes among students of the institution.
Ojukwu insists that UNIZIK is highly secured, and none of the reported incidents has been traced to the institution.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
