Residents, students and business owners in the Umuerim  Nekede community in Imo State have lamented the activities of cultists in their area.
 
According to them, they now live in fear as cult groups continually torment and extort residents.
   
Two weeks ago, the peace of the polytechnic community was threatened as rival cult groups clashed.
     
The clash sent shivers among residents as the cultists blocked the community back gate, while residents fled for their lives.
   
An eyewitness and business owner, Mr. Osondu Azubuike, said the incident is becoming a daily affair.
   
Azubuike, who owns a café and Point of Sale (PoS) centre in the area,  said he now closes shop as early as 5:00 p.m. to avoid being robbed by cult groups.
   
He said: “On several occasions, I have been slapped, beaten and tormented by the Aye cult group for refusing their demands.   
   
“The activities have increased in the area for lack of constant police presence. Lack of   moral upbringing of children by parents is also a contributory factor.”
   
Another resident, Mba Otu, said that the cultists are now bigger than the local security personnel employed in the area.
   
Otu, the owner of a three-story apartment in the area, said the cult groups often release gunshots at will during clashes or celebrations, while people are molested without provocation.    
     
According to him, it is not uncommon to see them with different types of guns, machetes and other weapons, threatening and beating passersby on sight.
 
He said: “On one occasion these cultists entered my residence and stood at the gate and started what they named as offering time, whereby they brought out a large container and asked every occupant of the building to drop their phones, money and other valuables in the container provided and later made away with it.”
   
An undergraduate of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Enwerem Akachukwu, who lives in the community, said he was forced to flee his home and relocate to another apartment because of the threat he received from the cultists.   

Also lamenting the menace of cultists, an indigene of the Umuerim, Miss Blessing Chukwu said shop owners, students and villagers now live in fear and at the mercy of cult groups operating in the community.
 
“On one occasion I have been molested for refusing their sexual advances. Their activities are now carried out in broad daylight with residents living in fear of being killed if they speak out. We plead with the state authorities to intervene and save our lives and property as we now live in fear.  The cultists operate unhindered because of lack of police presence in the community,” she said.
   
A staff of Federal Polytechnic Nekede blamed the growing incident of cultism on students of the institution.
 
She advised students and the community to desist from cultism.
  
She further advised parents and guardians to collaborate with the polytechnic management to ensure the eradication of cultism in the community.
 
Contacted, the officer in charge of Ihiagwa anti-crimes unit of Imo State Police Command, Sunday Ojoagbu said the Command is equal to the task, stressing that they have increased their presence at Umuerim community back gate.
   
Ojoagbu warned students and residents who engage in cult activities to desist from such acts as they would soon be caught and prosecuted.
   
He called on residents, business owners and students to go about their normal businesses as those involved in such immoral acts would soon be arrested.