Group Calls For Stiffer Penalty Against Ritual Killings, Seek Okowa, Delta Assembly Interventions

The group, Anti-cult Volunteer Corps (AVC) has send a Save Our Soul, SOS to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Delta State House of Assembly calling for stringent penalty for ritual killers in the state.

The group also called on the Governor to put machinery in place for the amendment of the Delta State Anticult Law that would tackle the social vices in the state.

President of the group, Mr. Austyne Emu in a statement made available to BigPen Online on Thursday, expressed worried over ritual related killings in the state in recent time.

He decried the activities of some group of persons popularly known as “Yahoo boys” in the state saying the many cases of killings are traced to them.

Emu, while lamenting the new trend, alleged that serving government officials and members of the armed forces are aiding and abetting the activities of some of the “Yahoo boys” turned ritualists.

He alleged that for yet to be explained reason, some of the “Yahoo boys” are protected with Delta state government and Delta state House of Assembly plate numbers and in some cases also move with military or police stickers.

The statement reads: “The fact remains that, there is no State policy nor Law to actually checkmate the internet fraud activities as it is assumed to be a normal way of life in some communities especially in Delta State.

“Delta State Government can make a difference by first stampeding the field actors of financial frauds (419ners) to ascertain their modern methods of operation.

“And let the state government come up with any rigid policy to slow or end those internet financial fraud activities cum ritualist within our society.

“Some traditional herbalist (native or voodoo doctors) go to extra miles as to using human parts or personal belongings to prepare charms or voodoo for some certain Internet fraudsters (Yahoo Yahoo Boys) in order to spiritually manipulate their acclaimed clients (maga/mugu) to release or source for funds to be paid to them”.

“Independent investigation shows that cultist act as errand boys and girls to the fraudsters in providing those human parts and personal belongings to be used for charms.

“Few instituted financial agencies or relatives security personnel assists the fraudsters by facilitating access to the duped funds and even spending of same funds.

“The Abraka community which happens to be a host community of Delta State University, Abraka Campus is today a case study.

“Their actions alone proved so much about their suspected awareness or involvement in this evil act. Apart from the viral case of Miss Elozino Ogege, other victims have been recorded with much more violent cult activities.

“The State Government has full knowledge of the activities of these Yahoo ritualist and the implications of accommodating cultism but failed to stiffen the established Anti-Cultism and Anti-Terrorism State Law for an effective result in combating such crimes.

“A review or adjustment of the State law to include Yahoo involvement will go a long way to assist crime fighters and well stated punishment for cultist and under aged persons from poor background acquiring so much wealth.

“All crimes and criminals has a root and backup which some so-called top political, community, security, religious leaders are majorly supportive in these crimes and criminality especially cultism which is deep-rooted in Delta State Government.

“The Internet Fraudsters (Yahoo Yahoo) within Delta State especially Abraka enjoys such backups or support from higher government personnel.

“It is on the know that every end of the year and election seasons do record high rate of crimes but these recent recorded crimes would have eventually been averted without stress.

“We appreciate the clampdown order given by the Delta State Governor but how will it be implemented…Will the government fully back police action and set up a committee to work with the police to check excesses to this Yahoo effect or was it just a mere pronouncement just to reduce tension.

“AVC shall endeavour to see justice prevail in these recent cultism, ritual killings and kidnapping for ritual purpose tagged Yahoo Yahoo Activity”, the statement added.