- The leadership of the beleaguered town declared the 11 individuals persona non grata over their alleged involvement in cult-related killings and kidnappings in the community
At least eleven persons have been ostracised and banished from Ihiala town in Anambra State amid the nagging insecurity that pervades the enclave.
The leadership of the beleaguered town declared the 11 individuals persona non grata over their alleged involvement in cult-related killings and kidnappings in the community.
The community, which borders with Imo State, has been decimated by insecurity in the past few years.
The wanton killings and perennial attacks have forced many residents of the urban town to flee and relocate to safer areas.
President-General of Ihiala Progressive Union, IPU, Barrister Okey Leo Ohagba, announced the banishment in a statement on Saturday.
Ohagba said the expelled persons, after they were identified, refused to present themselves to security agencies within a period of 48 hours given to them to clear their names.
They also failed to turn themselves in within another 72 hours grace period given by the community for public renunciation of cultism by repentant cultists.
Ohagba said the names and photographs of the identified suspected criminals will be displayed on various social media platforms and billboards to be erected at strategic locations within and around Ihiala, for ease of identification.
“Any person resident in Ihiala, whether indigene or not, who harbours or is seen to be associating with the aforementioned criminals and their cohorts within Ihiala town and environs hereafter, shall be treated as an accomplice by the law enforcement agencies and shall be made to suffer the same consequences/punishment meted out on the criminals.
“It is pertinent to remind the good people of Ihiala town that in line with the subsisting Anambra State government proscription order on cultism and cult related activities, and in synergy with relevant law enforcement agencies, cultism and cult related activities remains proscribed and banned in Ihiala town,” the statement said
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