Addressing Cultism: CANCEL CULTS Campaign in Bayelsa State

Amid the shadows cast by organized crime and the looming threat of cultism, the CANCEL CULTS campaign is taking proactive steps to extend its transformative impact to Amassoma and Amarata in Bayelsa State.

Recognizing the urgent need to uplift vulnerable youths and provide alternative pathways, the campaign is actively steering young individuals away from a life of crime. 

Tens of thousands of young men have lost their lives due to cult related violence, with thousands more arrested. The CANCEL CULTS Campaign responds by deploying a comprehensive approach, utilizing the CANCEL CULTS Facebook page, radio talk shows, awareness events, school and community engagements, and partnerships with influencers to deliver targeted messages and interventions that are helping to prevent our youth from becoming involved in cultism and serious organized crime. School mentorship programs and sports initiatives further sensitize vulnerable youths to the perils of cultism, offering alternative pathways to success.

The CANCEL CULTS campaign, in collaboration with the government and Civil Society Organizations, aims to create an environment where youths thrive through legitimate means. By urging young people to seize available opportunities, the program seeks to dismantle the allure of cultism and other criminal activities.

The CANCEL CULTS campaign is part of a wider BRIGHTER FUTURES programme backed by the UK government. The programme has taken significant strides in transforming the lives of vulnerable youths in Ikorodu LGA, Ageronmi Ifelodun LGA, and Ifako Ijaiye LGA. The Brighter Futures program provides skills acquisition programs, community-based initiatives, and mentorship opportunities  that empower vulnerable young individuals to build sustainable livelihoods. A notable achievement of the program is its focus on addressing past trauma and improving self-worth among beneficiaries. By doing so, Brighter Futures effectively discourages these individuals from becoming pawns in the game of crime, recognizing that a thriving community relies on the well-being of its members.

Mr. Philip Slaboh, Bayelsa state coordinator for the program, expressed, “The Bright Futures Project is impacting young people in a positive way. I see youths involved in drugs and cultism (Gangs) turning a new leaf and changing their pathways. All kudos to the Intervention programme.”