The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force arrested 18 teenage cultists during their initiation in a bush area of the state. The suspects—15 males and three females—were seized by the Anti‑Cult Squad on March 12 at noon at their initiation ground. They were later paraded at the state police headquarters on Wednesday.
State Commissioner of Police Ahmed Ammani used the occasion to urge parents to take responsibility for their children’s upbringing to prevent delinquent behavior. He expressed regret that youths aged 14 to 17 could be drawn into cultism so early and emphasized the need for parents to cooperate with the police and other authorities to curb teenage delinquency. Ammani warned that under state law, parents can be held liable for any wrongdoing by a child or ward under their care.
The commissioner noted that the teenagers were caught red‑handed with machetes, knives and other dangerous weapons as they began the initiation process. He said it baffled officers how children in this age group find pleasure in joining cult or confraternity groups. “The astonishing revelation by these children led to the invitation of their parents to the command,” Ammani stated. “Parents should take parenting and character molding seriously and ensure their children do not become a menace to society.”
Ammani warned that, if unchecked, these teenagers could evolve into a serious threat to the peace‑loving people of the state, potentially turning into armed robbers, highway robbers, kidnappers, or murderers. He attributed such outcomes to parental failure in responsibility and due diligence. The commissioner announced that the parents would be required to sign an undertaking to provide proper care and to submit periodic reports on their children’s behavior, character development, and obedience at home.
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