4th May, 2012
The Bayelsa Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, says he has been receiving threats by suspected cultists on his mobile telephones.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Yenagoa that the threats followed recent onslaught by security agencies against suspected cultists in the state.
Olakpe said the situation was also connected to the arrest of kingpins of suspected cultists.
“I have said no to cultism. Cultism will not thrive in Bayelsa State. We are ready to smoke them out of the state.”
Olakpe urged members of the public to avail the police with useful information that could lead to the arrest of suspected cultists.
“I was threatened some few days ago by certain faceless individuals suspected to be kingpins of cultists who said some of their staunch members are being held.
“They threatened that if I don’t release the cultists, they would launch attacks on me and senior police officers, but I dared them to go ahead with their empty threats and be ready to face the damning consequences. ”
The Commissioner urged officers and men of the command to redouble their efforts towards combating cultism and other forms of social vices in the state.
“We have made several arrests of cultists and more so the enabling law to prosecute them had just been signed by the governor.”
He said all the logistic challenges confronting the command would be urgently addressed as part of the measures to ensure the efficiency of security agencies.
The commissioner said the determination to fight crime in the state informed his decision to visit traditional rulers and community heads to seek their collaboration and cooperation.
Gov. Seriake Dickson signed into law the Secret Cult Societies and Similar Activities Prohibition Bill 2012 on Wednesday.