A bill for prohibition of secret cult and offences weapons passes second reading

By Itam Offor

 A Bill for the prohibition of secret cult and offensive weapons has passed  second reading in the Cross River State House of Assembly.

The bill which was sponsored by the Member representing Calabar South 2 and Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey seeks for an amendment of the  bill earlier passed by the State Assembly, in April 2002 and assented to by then Governor, Donald Duke.

Presenting the bill on the flour of the House, the Sponsor, Joseph Bassey vehemently argued for the amendment of some sections of the Bill stating that "since the passage of the Bill, more than one decade ago, no one had been convicted or punished for secret cult activities in the State".

Members who unanimously lamented the security situation across the State called for stiffer penalties for offenders which according to them should serve as deterrent to others.

Specifically, Hon. Elvert Ayambe Member representing Ikom 2 called for the death sentence on offenders while arguing that secret cultists, armed robbers and kidnappers are all murderers and should be treated the same way
On his part, Rt. Hon. Nelson Ofem, Member representing Yakurr 1 opined that there was an urgent need to reorientate the younger generation and steer their minds away from these vices.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams emphasized the urgent need to address the secret cult menace in the State. He committed the bill to the House Committee on Security directing them to hold a widely publicised public hearing which should have representatives from all the Local Government Areas in the State. The Security Committee was given 3 weeks to report back to the House.