By Eben Enasco
In the bid to combat cultism, it’s crucial to sieve out only those who are genuinely involved in criminal activities, rather than casting a wide net that might ensnare innocent people. This approach will not only help to build trust between the police and the community but also ensure that resources are focused on addressing the root causes of cultism. The police, under CP Monday Agbonika’s leadership, need to work closely with community leaders, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders to identify and apprehend cultists who engage in violent and destructive activities.Cultism becomes a cankerworm that is eating deep into the fabric of our society, has brought about fear, violence, and instability to our communities, and it is high time the authority pulls up the convoy and takes decisive action to address this challenge.CP Agbonika’s intention is a clear indication that the police are determined to tackle this issue head-on. However, it is not just the police that need to be involved. We need a collective effort from all stakeholders, including the government, traditional leaders, community members, and the cultists themselves, to find a lasting solution to this problem.
The recent moves to rid the state of criminal cultists in Edo State by the Commissioner of Police, CP Agbonika will, in a sane society, attract the attribute “Well done”.
Cultists by all standards are severe criminals, and this highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to tackling cultism in the state.
While it’s essential to acknowledge that cultism is a menace that needs to be addressed, it’s equally important to ensure that innocent individuals are not unfairly targeted or stigmatized.
In the bid to combat cultism, it’s crucial to sieve out only those who are genuinely involved in criminal activities, rather than casting a wide net that might ensnare innocent people.
This approach will not only help to build trust between the police and the community but also ensure that resources are focused on addressing the root causes of cultism.
The police, under CP Monday Agbonika’s leadership, need to work closely with community leaders, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders to identify and apprehend cultists who engage in violent and destructive activities.
Cultism becomes a cankerworm that is eating deep into the fabric of our society, has brought about fear, violence, and instability to our communities, and it is high time the authority pulls up the convoy and takes decisive action to address this challenge.
CP Agbonika’s intention is a clear indication that the police are determined to tackle this issue head-on.
However, it is not just the police that need to be involved. We need a collective effort from all stakeholders, including the government, traditional leaders, community members, and the cultists themselves, to find a lasting solution to this problem.
Trust me, arresting innocent people will further worsen police integrity and create problems for the ruling party and government.
The government is of the people, by the people, and for the People, all in threesomes.
If the police Operatives rely on Security intelligence gathering to arrest criminals, refers to the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information that is used to identify, assess, and mitigate potential security threats to individuals, organizations, or nations.
This type of intelligence is critical in preventing and responding to security breaches, terrorist attacks, and other malicious activities.
Key components of this Security Intelligence include gathering information from various sources, including human intelligence, signals intelligence, and open-source intelligence.
At the point of examining and interpreting the collected information to identify patterns, trends, and potential threats, the police should be able to sieve out potential criminals and allow innocent people to have their freedoms.
Sharing the analyzed information with relevant stakeholders, such as law enforcement agencies, government officials, or private sector organizations, must be done with a clear motive.
The challenges in Security Intelligence have to do with managing and analyzing large volumes of such information, where influential people infiltrate the final
decision-making at various levels, from tactical operations to strategic planning that is now widely condemned by the public.
Protecting sources and methods of intelligence gathering is critical to maintaining the integrity of security intelligence. This is the only way people are not arbitrarily sentenced to jail for a crime they know nothing about.
Effective security intelligence requires collaboration, with clear intents to avoid suspicious acts from members of society as the police who are supposed to be trusted seem to be losing their credibility by miles in every security action undertaken.
Once the police put on the Uniform crested with the badge, they are prioritized to defend the country’s integrity not the integrity of their superiors who have become self-centered.
If the word “Police” means the civil force of a state, responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public order, it will therefore, mean they should not create public disorder that looks like the 2019 “Ozumba Nbadiwe’s” Incident that will keep ringing bell for a long time.
On the part of the government, there is also the need to take a more proactive approach to addressing the root causes of cultism, such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunities.
In our society today, the only opportunity that is trending is the 2027 Presidential election and a few sparingly created opportunities by the governments which are for their family members and the “yes sirs” in the society.
This is way less than 5% by margin governments should create social welfare in society.
This action by the government has created disparity and worsened the thinking caps of the people who are neither sure of their daily bread nor existence.
The government must continue to engage the people with friendly oriented policies to earn their trusts which will create awareness about the dangers of cultism and the importance of peaceful coexistence.
This collaborative approach will help to gather genuine intelligence, prevent crimes, and bring perpetrators, not innocent, to justice. That is essential to address the socio-economic factors that drive individuals to join cult groups.
By sieving out only those who are genuinely involved in criminal activities and addressing the root causes of cultism, we can create a safer and more secure environment for everyone in Edo State.
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