With effect from next semester, every staff and students of Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) will swear to an affidavit stating categorically that they have nothing to do with cultism.

Vice Chancellor of ABSU, Prof. Eleazar Uche Ikonne, announced this at the school’s Conference Room Tuesday during a press briefing to herald the 24th Convocation ceremony of the institution scheduled for this Saturday.

“Every staff and student, at the beginning of every semester, will depose to an affidavit that you don’t belong to any cult group,” Ikonne said, adding that this was part of the measures being fashioned out to eradicate cultism in ABSU by authorities of the school

It would be recalled that the ABSU community, and indeed, Abia State, was shocked to the marrow last month when two students of the institution were not only murdered but butchered, with their heads severed. The victims were murdered in a private hostel outside the school campus.

To forestall any future occurrence, a joint security committee comprising ABSU management, private hostel operators, landlords and security agencies is already in place.

Also, private hostel operators have been mandated to erect security posts in their hostels to regulate movement in and out of these hostels, in addition to profiling students in their hostels. The operators were equally mandated to form an association through which the school could relate with them.

According to the Vice Chancellor, an anti-cult association to be known as Reformers Vanguard would be put in place, with membership drawn from the Man O’War, student bodies and Christian groups. One of their major objectives would be to protect new students from being recruited into secret cult groups on campus.

The war against cultism in the school was given effect yesterday when the students, led by the Students Union Government, held anti-cult sensitisation rally round the university town and up to neighbouring Okigwe in Imo State, as part of the 24th Convocation programmes.

It is expected that today, some repented cultists may publicly renounce their membership of the outlawed groups during a prayer session to rededicate ABSU to God.

Ikonne announced that a special office manned by personnel of the Man O’War, to protect those who have renounced cultism from coming under any form of attack by their former associates, would be created.

With regard to the beheaded students, he said that the security agencies have made arrests but pointed out that their findings have not been related to the university authorities.

The Vice Chancellor said that a panel set up by the university management has since submitted its report while the one inaugurated by the Governing Council was still carry out its own investigations.

He vowed that the university authorities were determined to stamp out cultism and create a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning to thrive, adding that at the appropriate time, names of those indicted or suspected to be cultists would be released.

He disclosed that 3, 561 students would be graduating from ABSU during Saturday’s convocation ceremony, as 2, 958 would be awarded first degrees and 603, post-graduates degrees. According to him, two students made first class.

Three eminent Nigerians will be awarded honorary degrees, namely, Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, a former Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Engr. Emma Mbaka, Chairman of Platinum Mortgage Bank and Theo Nkire, first Attorney-General of Abia State.

After a book fair on Thursday, an alumnus of ABSU, Chief James U.K. Igwe (SAN), will deliver the pre-convocation lecture with the theme, “Enhancing Economic and Educational Development through the Law” on Friday.

Ikonne described the 24th convocation as unique given that it is the first to be held under Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as Visitor to the institution, himself as the Vice Chancellor and an alumnus delivering the pre-convocation lecture.

•Photo shows ABSU VC, Prof. Eleazar Uche Ikonne.