Soldiers arrest cultists terrorising corps members in Rivers

Troops of the Nigerian Army attached to Ubeta community, Ahoda West, Rivers State, have arrested three of the cult members allegedly terrorising corps members within the community in the past years.
Our correspondent gathered that the arrested cultists were students of Government Senior Secondary School, Ubeta, and members of the Islanders cult group.
The suspects were arrested by the soldiers, following a tip-off, while the group’s initiation process was ongoing.
It was learnt that two of the arrested suspects are twins of the same parents, Paul and Silas Nnanurum.
Sources said the cultists had been terrorising the people of the community and perpetrating different atrocities, ranging from killing, kidnapping, raping to others.
A resident of the community, John Ozumba, said the community had, for a long time, remained helpless as the people suffered in the hands of the cult group.
“Atrocities of the cultists in this village are immeasurable. They have held us all hostage in this community with their various evil deeds. There was a time that the community leaders asked the government to stop sending corps members here because of the cultists’ atrocities. At that time, some female corps members were raped mercilessly by these evil boys,” he said.
Another resident, who simply identified herself as Angela, said the community leaders of Ubeta community had not done enough to curtail the menace of the cultists, most of whom are secondary school
students.
“The leaders of this community have not done enough over the case. If any of their children is arrested over any atrocity, you will see them making noise that they are indigenes, so they should be left alone. On several occasions, there have been rancours between them and leaders of the soldiers deployed here,” she said.
On the arrest of the suspected cultists, Angela said, “The twins who are students of Government Senior Secondary School have been formerly chased out of this community by former commandant of the military men in this town. At that time, they committed a serious atrocity and there was no way they could be tolerated by the community again. So, they had to be sent away by the soldiers and the community leaders. But when the current commandant arrived, he was lenient with them to return, only for them to start recruiting members into the cult group alongside other leaders of the group.”
Meanwhile, some of the cultists reportedly killed a soldier within the community some months ago.
According to the source, the soldier, whose identity could not be ascertained as at press time, was allegedly shot on his back by the cultist.
A male corps member, who declined to be named, said, “Cultism in this village has been seen as a way of life. Even the village members encourage the students by seeing it as what is normal. It is we, the corps members, that suffer it a lot in most cases. But thanks to the military men, who always ensure that our lives are safe. Even at that, some months ago, a soldier was shot dead by these evil people. The man was shot at the back in the midnight while on patrol.”
The paramount ruler of the community, Chief Chimezie Nathaniel, said the community was always made safe for both indigenes and the corps members, adding that more efforts were being made to ensure adequate security.
“We truly heard about the arrest and we encourage anything that will bring sanity in our community. This community is always made safe for all and we will ensure that never changes,” he said.