48 cultists renounce in Ogun

By Kolawole Olayinka and Innocent Raphael

The Ogun State Police has announced that a total of 48 members from various secret cult groups have publicly renounced their affiliations in the Sagamu area of the state.

The disclosure was made on Tuesday, in a statement by the State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, who revealed that the former cultists voluntarily surrendered their firearms to law enforcement authorities as a gesture of their commitment to change.

This significant event took place during a ceremony held at the Akarigbo Palace in Sagamu, where Alamutu emphasized the importance of offering these individuals a chance to reform and contribute positively to society.

The surrendered weapons included one pump action gun, four double barrels, seven single barrels, two English pistols, four locally made pistols, and 35 cartridges.

Alamutu also highlighted the history of cult-related violence in Sagamu, expressing hope that extending this olive branch would foster peace and unity in the region.

The Commissioner further stated that the initiative stemmed from extensive dialogues aimed at addressing the root causes of conflict and promoting a culture of cooperation among residents.

“This is in line with the directive from the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun who has ordered that the illicit firearms should be mopped up, even those who have their licences are encouraged to return theirs too”.

“We urged the cultists in the state to embrace this golden opportunity, many of them already aware that cultism does not pay, so they should come and lay down their weapons because anyone caught when this window is closed will be treated as common criminal,” he added.

In his remarks, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the Akarigbo and Paramount ruler of Remoland, emphasized that the decision to grant amnesty to the cultists was the culmination of extensive engagements and discussions.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the past violence and disruption caused by the cultists in the community, Oba Ajayi noted that the community had taken proactive measures to address the issue, leading to a significant emigration of the offenders.

The monarch however revealed that even in their absence, they continued to seek forgiveness and expressed readiness to embark on a new path, as he assured that the cultists are remorseful for their past actions and have pledged to embrace positive change.

“We told them to submit their weapons and stay away from cultism and we have promised to integrate them into the society. It is an ongoing exercise and we hope that their colleagues in other parts of Remoland and Ogun State as a whole will draw a vital lesson and follow suit as well,” he stated.

Appealing to residents of Sagamu to show the repentant cultists love and support, the royal father expressed gratitude to the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, security agencies and the Sagamu Security Committee for their tireless efforts in ensuring the success of the amnesty programme for the former cultists.