Ogun police partner traditional rulers to tackle cultism

The Ogun State Police Command, in partnership with the Tolaram Group of Companies, the traditional rulers and others, has staged a walk against cultism in the Sagamu area of the state to sensitise people and create awareness about the dangers of the crime.

According to a statement issued by its State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, on Thursday, the walk against the crime became necessary following the age-long battle to end cultism in the community and the state at large.

The four-hour walk, which began at the palace of the Akarigbo of Remo Land, had in attendance the Akarigbo of Remoland, Babatunde Ajayi, other traditional chiefs and Bales, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, State Security Service, local hunters, and other security agencies, along with commercial motorcyclists and taxi drivers.

Explaining the significance of the walk to our correspondent through a WhatsApp message on Thursday, Odutola said, “The recent mayhem and terror unleashed on innocent citizens in Sagamu, a perennial struggle to tackle cultism and cult-related clashes, on the assumption of office, CP Alamutu Abiodun, was categorical when he stated he would tackle cultism headlong.

“This led us to today, November 30, 2023, to set the stage for the event against cultism and join forces to match against the menace of cultism in Sagamu.

“The movement had the Eagles Crime Awareness and Prevention Initiative as the pioneer frontier and the organization collaborated with the Ogun State Police Command to send this message across the streets of Sagamu that the destination of every cultist is untimely death and a short life span. We also took the time out to tell them that laws will catch up with cultists and other criminals, and the vengeance of innocent blood they shed will cry out for justice.”

She added that the feedback was eye-opening for the command as residents narrated how cultists had been extorting them and threatening their children with death if they refused to do their bidding.

Odutola noted, “The feedback was excellent. Residents came out en masse. They used the movement to express their fear and how cultists torment petty traders by extorting them for as much as N500 from one shop to another. They also spoke on camera: The groups force their children into cultism by initiating them, and any young person who fails to oblige will generally not live in peace.”