Edward Ajogun, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria has declared war against cultism in the state, saying “it would be fire-for-fire” against cultists.
Ajogun issued the threat after parading 11 suspected cultists before newsmen at the Ijebu Area Command, Igbeba in Ijebu Ode Local Government Area.
“I want to sound a note of warning to all the leaders, rank and file members, counsellors and procurers of cultists, others who are nursing the ambition of joining them, the command is all out for you all. We are determined, we are battle-ready,” the commissioner warned after meeting with youths and leaders of Ijebu Ode immediately after parading the suspects.
“It would be fire-for-fire, and whoever is arrested, will be made to face appropriate charges, including attempted murder, murder, armed robbery and kidnapping. This warning is for all the youths and parents in Ijebu Ode and its environs in particular and to the general public at large.”
Ogun State is fast becoming a breeding ground for cultists as the vice is reported to have spread to secondary schools across the state.
The Punch reported in December 2020 how students and artisans below the age of 20 are now finding fantasies in cultism.
The newspaper reported that schools have become the haven for cultism as the initiation into various groups take place on the premises of public schools.
Earlier in June, a notorious cultist, Adewale Adeoye, aka 16, and 30 others for different crimes were arrested by the police in the state.
The police commissioner said the paraded suspects were members of the Eiye Confraternity.
During his meeting with the youths and community leaders, Ajogun said he was horrified by the bloodsheds and killings occasioned by the “battles of supremacy between rival cult groups” in the area.
He warned the community leaders against aiding and abetting cult groups while advising the youths on the dangers of joining any of the groups.
“Henceforth, any person, cultist or not, found with a weapon, or displaying a weapon in the public, or using same to maim or kill in Ijebu Ode metropolis, Ijebu Ode environs, indeed in any part of the state, will be dealt with in the most decisive manner,” he declared.
Meanwhile, HumAngle learnt that cult clashes are regular occurrences in the Ijebu-Ode area of the state, while several lives have been lost.
Twenty persons were reported killed in December 2020 during a week-long clash between members of the Aye and Eiye confraternities.
A data obtained by HumAngle from the Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department of the state command shows that the command arrested 469 suspected cultists in 2020.
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