No fewer than 48 youths on Tuesday, publicly renounced their membership of various secret cult groups in the Sagamu township area of Ogun State.
The development followed several engagements between security operatives and community leaders in the state.
The ex-cultists also surrendered their illegally acquired weapons, used in their nefarious activities to the state police command at an event which held at the palace of the Akarigbo of Remo land, Oba Babatunde Ajayi.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the move was to enable the surrendered cult members to benefit from the amnesty programme initiated by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Some of the weapons submitted by the erstwhile cultists included a pump action gun; 4 double barrels guns; 7 single barrels guns; 2 English pistols; 4 locally made pistols and 35 cartridges.
Speaking after the take-over of the firearms, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Abiodun Alamutu said the rationale behind the olive branch being extended to former cultists was principally to “give them a second chance towards becoming better citizens.”
He added that the initiative was also to enable them contribute meaningfully to the society in the interest of peaceful coexistence across the nation.
Alamutu, who recalled the several sleepless nights and havocs which cultism and cult activities have wrecked across the state, particularly loss of lives in Sagamu township, explained that the amnesty now being enjoyed by the repentant cultists was a product of several engagements between stakeholders in Remo land and other parts of the state.
“Working with the government and traditional rulers, we kick off this process whereby the cultists will come forward to denounce their membership and submit any firearms with them without any punitive measures.
“This is in line with the directive from the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who earlier gave an order that all illicit firearms should be mopped up from the society, even those who have their licences are encouraged to return theirs too,” the CP said.
Alamutu however, admonished other cultists who are yet to embrace the initiative to take advantage of the window period provided by the ongoing Egbetokun Cultists’ Amnesty programme to surrender their weapons.
He declared that whosoever is caught thereafter will be treated as common criminals.
Earlier, the Akarigbo and Paramount ruler of Remo land, Oba Ajayi disclosed that parents, community leaders, as well as other stakeholders in Sagamu were dissatisfied with the rate of secret cults’ killings in the community.
The first-class monarch said the menace motivated the community to re-strategise towards overcoming the challenges posed by the cult trend to other peace-loving members of Sagamu township.
“The heat was so much that some of them were even forced to leave the town. But they have continued to beg and sending emissaries, promising that they are ready to turn a new leaf.
“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 Remo land and Ogun State as a whole will draw a vital lesson and follow suit as well,” the Alarigbo said.
The Alarigbo pleaded with members of the public to show affection and support the repentant cultists, without treating them as outcasts.
He appreciated the support extended by the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the security agencies and the Sagamu Security Committee for working round the clock towards ensuring the success of the amnesty deal.
