By Mudiaga Affe
Eighty-two-year-old Bright Ahanor has cried out over the disappearance of his son, Godspower, who fled six years ago after cultists threatened to kill him over his refusal to be initiated.

The Octogenarian once again appealed to the police to fish out the culprits, who have continued to terrorize the family despite his son’s absence

Displaying a police report from the Area Command Office in Benin, a distraught Ahanor who refused to reveal the whereabouts of his son wailed that he has not seen Godspower since he ran away from the heavily armed cultists who shot at the family house on the night of January 2, 2015, in a desperate attempt at killing him.

The father said that when the armed hoodlums came that night, they scaled the fence and jumped into the compound, threatening to kill his son if he refused to follow them for the initiation ceremony.

He said that his son who was fast asleep had to quickly jump out of the bed and escape through the back door, noting that in anger they set part of the building on fire and were yet to set his eyes on him ever since he disappeared into the night.

Ahanor said, “They have been coming from time to time to look for my son. Each time they come, they fire into the air, shouting that they will kill him anytime they set their eyes on him for betraying them. They insisted that he should have joined the cult group like other young men in the neighborhood but my son is easygoing and doesn’t like violence. He said that he will never join.”

In deep distress, the octogenarian said that it has not been easy for the family as they are seriously traumatized by the separation and threats of violence by the neighborhood gang members.

Part of the extract from the police crime diary by Inspector Kapi Pindar read: “On the 2nd day of January 2015, his son Ahanor Godspower was threatened by suspected cult groups concerning his refusal to be initiated into the confraternity (cult), after much life threat, he went to the police station to report the matter over the issue concerning his son.

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“On that same day, at about 2 am, they started hearing some noises, shouting provide your son Ahanor Godspower or else this house will be set ablaze. Before they knew it, the house was on fire. Since then, the cult groups are still desperate to get him,” he said.

Attempts to contact the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Bello Kontongs proved futile as he was said to be on a three-day capacity building workshop in Lagos State.