Akwa Ibom State Government has threatened to shut down hotels and other recreational centres operating in the state with links to cult and criminal activities.
A Government statement by the state information commissioner Comrade Ini Ememobong Thursday in Uyo said the decision followed intelligence gathered that some hotels and recreational centres have been turned into an operational base for cult and criminal activities.
“This decision is informed by credible intelligence that hotel owners and proprietors of entertainment centers have given their premises to cult groups and other criminal gangs to use as their base.” The statement explained.
While warning hotel and recreational centre owners against harbouring such people, the statement said government and security agencies have set up a monitoring team to enforce the order.
“The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and security agencies have set up a monitoring team to enforce this order.The public, especially proprietors of hotels and places of entertainment should take note and act accordingly.” It warned.
It would be recalled that only last week, the State Executive Council pegged the mandatory age for admission into its secondary schools at 12 in a bid to stem the growing incidence of cultism in schools in the area.
“Since education is free in the state, the maximum age for admission into secondary schools has been pegged at 12 years, to curb the cultism surge in secondary schools since investigation has revealed that the surge is caused mainly by overaged students who are on a mission of mass recruitment of students into cult groups.
” However, any student above this age with a genuine reason, will have their parents sign an undertaking of good behaviour, before their admission.” It had said.
