.Pledges to enforce anti-cultism law
By Amos Okioma
Bayelsa State government has warned youths, who indulge in cultism and other nefarious activities to desist forthwith or face the wrath of the Anti-Cultism Law as amended.
At the 2018 Anti-Cultism Rally organized by the Boys Brigade Nigeria, Bayelsa State Council, in Yenagoa, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Yenagoa, Talford Ongolo, reminded the youths that the Anti-Cultism Law attracts a penalty of 20 years imprisonment.
He said that from the inception of the restoration government, Governor Seriake Dickson initiated various measures, aimed at curbing violent and criminal acts and assured that, the government would not relent in stamping out the menace from the state.
While highlighting the dangers associated with cultism, Rt. Hon. Ongolo advised youths to focus on their education, noting that, such activities had truncated the education and future of young people.
Responding to a request, the Chief of Staff, accepted to be one of the Patrons of the Boys’ Brigade Nigeria, Bayelsa State Council, and assured the organization of the government’s support to enable it carry out its campaign to all the educational institutions in the state.
He thanked the Boys Brigade for defying the rain to create the necessary awareness on the need for youths to imbibe and preserve positive societal values.
In his remarks, President of the Boys Brigade Nigeria, Bayelsa state Council, Bishop Doutimi Egbegi, listed some of the effects of cultism to include premature death, drug abuse and addiction.
Bishop Egbegi said, the Boys Brigade would continue to support the restoration government in the fight against cultism and other societal ills and called on youths of the state to join the Brigade and other laudable organizations to promote peace and security.
Also speaking, Secretary of the Boys Brigade, Captain Peter Waibodei-Yeri, described the organization as a reputable body, with a current membership of over 12,000 in the state.
According to Captain Yeri, the organization decided to embark on a sensitization campaign in view of the worrisome dimension cultism is assuming in the state and beyond.
