Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has called on Churches to assist government in fighting cult related activities among youths in the state.
Emmanuel made the call when the Redeemed Christian Church of God Pastors, led by Pastor Idris Enoch, in charge of Region 14, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Uyo, on Sunday.
The governor also expressed displeasure on the level of moral decadence among youths across the state and the country.
He said that the trend of cult activities in secondary schools could be reduced with the assistance of the leadership of the Church through preaching of God’s word to instil morals and values.
Emmanuel, who said that most crime related activities in the state were connected to cultism mainly in secondary schools, frowned at persons recruiting youths into the “fruitless venture.”
“I need the Church to help me on this war against cultism, if we don’t do something now, if we don’t arise to it now it’s going to cause a problem.
“You can’t believe that this week, an SS3 student used knife and stabbed an SS2 student because they are in rival cult groups in a secondary school, and how did he go to school with a knife to stab another student.
“Unfortunately for us, we are running free and compulsory education, so these ones perpetuating nefarious activities don’t mine sewing a uniform as if they are joining secondary schools, actually they are on evangelism initiating other students.
“If you check every single problem and social vices I am having here, stems out of cultism. If you arrest armed robbers, 100 per cent of them are of different cult groups.
“I often say, if the indoctrination you are giving to these young men ends in violence, killings, in crime, in shedding of blood, so you have to think that what you are doing is not right,” he said.
The governor acknowledged the partnership between the leadership of the Church and government, and welcomed the pastors to the state.
Earlier, Enoch commended the governor for the relative peace and security in the state which he emphasised was the bedrock of development and the landmark achievements recorded by the present administration.
“Since we came, we have studied situation on ground and our record shows that since you became the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, there has been relative peace and security.
“I want to thank God for your life, if there is anything a nation needs it is security of lives and property. This atmosphere explains some of the landmark development you are seeing on ground today in the state,” Enoch said. (NAN)