By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT—Army,  yesterday, warned  cultists in Rivers State to change their ways or be ready to be crushed.

Speaking against the backdrop of  weekend’s cult war in some communities in the state that led to the death of about 27  persons, including two soldiers, the army said it was set to take on the hoodlums if they failed to give up cultism.

Spokesman of 2 Amphibious Brigade, Port Harcourt, Captain  Lazarus Eli in a statement, yesterday, said the army will  smoke out cultists and brigands from the various communities, adding that those arrested will be severely dealt with in accordance with the law.

“The cultists are hereby warned to surrender their arms and turn away from their evil ways. Therefore, I wish to state unequivocally that any such attacks on any community will be met with full military action. The viciousness and bestiality displayed by these cultists in killing their rivals have no place in any civilised society. The level of violence and carnage recorded in the past few days must be eschewed and denounced by all peace loving and law abiding people of Rivers State. Those involved must never be allowed to go unpunished,” he said.

He called on parents and guardians to give special attention to their children and wards to ensure they don’t belong to cult groups.