Police dismiss 2 officers for abetting cultism, insecurity in A/Ibom

The Akwa Ibom Police Command has dismissed two of its officers for abetting cultism and insecurity in the state.

Speaking yesterday in Uyo when he met with the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Onofiok Luke, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, said the dismissed men will be prosecuted with other arrested cultists.

Though he did not identify the affected policemen, Ogunjemilusi called on the House of Assembly to impose stiffer penalties on cultists by reviewing the state law.

Pleading with the assembly to support the police to end criminal enterprise under the guise of cultism, he said, “We have caught two police officers, we have dismissed them and we are prosecuting them.

“The Akwa Ibom State Police Command under my leadership is resolute to dismantle cultism and contain its spread in the state. We are determined to confront violent crimes headlong, put an end to senseless killings amongst our youths and stamp out criminality in all forms.”

In his response, Mr. Onofiok Luke, Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly said he was yet to receive a formal report that members or staff of the Assembly were involved in any of the security complaints the commissioner had raised.

He condemned the rise of cultism in the state and said anyone caught, no matter how highly placed should be prosecuted.

“Anybody, even if it is a member of the state house of assembly or I caught in cult regalia, meeting, activity or sponsoring any cult, please deal with me according to the dictates of the law.

“That is my stand and the stand of all the House of Assembly members’ seated here today,” he said.