OTUKPO, popularly called Texas by its residents is the headquarters of Benue South Senatorial District and was one of the most socially active towns in Benue State,.
During the weekends, the hotels in Oturkpo were usually fully booked as many privileged Idoma indigenes usually arrived to spend their weekends and escape the hustle and bustle of major cities and business thrived .
But all these were in the past as Otukpo was losing its innocence, no thanks to the activities of cults that have been threatening to damage the economy and social in the town.
When cultism first reared its in 2007, most residents thought it was one of those trends that would soon pass away..
But they were wrong.
When The Guardian went to Oturkpo , last week, some residents said 78 persons have died in cult-related activities, while others said 68 had been killed.
But, no matter; the situation had got out of hand and something needed to be done.
A retired civil servant, Humphrey Ocheme blamed journalists for the woes of Otukpo.
He told The Guardian:“We have suffered in the hands of cultists and their sponsors, but nobody knows about our plight. You journalists simply sit in Makurdi and focus only on those issues around Makurdi while our youths are dying in their numbers. I am sure that you would not have come here, if you did not hear that the problems is getting out of hand”, Ocheme said.
Indeed the activities of cult groups seemed to have come to a head last week with the killing of John Abel Adeyi by suspected cultists in his family house.
An acclaimed God-fearing student , Adeyi was unfortunate to be home when suspected cultists from a rival group invaded his family home in search of his elder brother called ‘Morocco’ a notorious cult member.
When they could not find Morocco , they dragged the innocent Adeyi from his room and shot him dead in the presence of other family members.
The entire town was angered by the action of the cultists. Otukpo almost turned a jungle as residents resolved to eliminate anyone known or suspected to be a cult member.
In retaliation for the killing of Adeyi, a youth called Eteh suspected to be the leader of the cult gang was stoned and clubbed to death by an irate mob.
Another suspected cultist , Musa Ocheche was last Friday, beaten to death in the town by an irate mob, who claimed t he was a dangerous cultist.
Earlier, another mob had burnt to death, anothetr suspected cultist, a boy simply called Okopi.
But the cultists fought back, attacking those they suspect were blowing the whistle on them and Otukpo became too hot for visitors, who did not understand the strategies of survival .
Residents formed vigilante groups supported by the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the town and Otukpo Local Council .
The vigilante groups , led by Major Enokela Okwenyi(rtd) in collaboration with clan heads led by Chief Akatu Ahubi openened channels of dialogue with youths fingered to be members of the two prevalent cult groups in Otukpo, the ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ .
The communication paid off as last Sunday about 50 cult members , between the ages of 16 and 25 renounced their membership at a public function that was facilitated by the local council administration.
The ceremony which was attended by traditional rulers, religious leaders, council officials and police chiefs witnessed each of the ex-cultists publicly renouncing cultism in the presence of the community at Igbanomaje Square after which police detectives took their photographs and particulars.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of Otukpo Local Council, Dr Innocent Onuh said the council in liaison with law enforcement agents have forgiven and granted amnesty to all those who have renounced their membership of cults .
He said the period of grace for amnesty for identified cultists ends this week and those who fail to turn themselves over to the authorities and renounce cultism would be prosecuted.
He announced that the local council has set aside funds for the immediate rehabilitation of those who have pledged to turn a new leaf even as he appealed to the Senate President, David Mark and Minister of State for Niger Delta, Sam Ode, who are indigenes of the council to assist in the provision of resources for the rehabilitation of the ex-cultists.
In his address, Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Mohammed regretted that in Oturkpo, cultism had led to the death of more than 10 persons in 2010 alone.
He expressed happiness that the local council has mobilised the Vigilante Group in the area to fish out the ex-cultists who have renounced cultism after the council promised to rehabilitate them.
Represented by the Divisional Police Officer of Otukpo, Mr Donatus Agaibe, the commissioner said: “We have recorded too many deaths due to cult related activities in the recent past and we see this exercise as a welcome development. It will reduce our work”.
In an interview with The Guardian, Franca Randy, an 18 year-old primary school leaver said she was forced into cultism by her boy-friend who insisted that if she did not join she would lose her life
Stephen Alibi, a 21 year old Ordinary National Diploma holder said he was initiated in his final year.
in school.
One of the youths, 17 year-old secondary school leaver, Oloche Adugba insisted he was not a cultist and was wrongly implicated by his girlfriend whom he did not know was a cultist.
The two predominant cult groups in Otukpo are ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’, so called because of the colour of the edge of the axes that they use as their symbols.
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