The Commissioner of Police for Ogun State, Abiodun Alamutu, reported that at least 48 individuals affiliated with various cult groups in the Sagamu area of the state have renounced their membership.
These repentant cult members have surrendered their firearms to the police for confiscation.
The weapons turned in by the repentant cultists, who have pledged to reform, include one pump action gun, four double-barrels, seven single-barrels, two English pistols, four locally made pistols, and 35 cartridges.
During the handover of the firearms at the Akarigbo Palace, Alamutu emphasized that the purpose of extending an olive branch to cultists is to offer them a second chance to become law-abiding citizens and contribute to peaceful coexistence in the state.
“And working with the government and traditional rulers, we kick off this process whereby the cultists will come forward 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 has ordered that the illicit firearms should be mopped up, and even those who have their licences are encouraged to return theirs too.
“We urge the cultists in the state to embrace this golden opportunity. Many of them are 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 a common criminal.”
The Akarigbo and Paramount ruler of Remo land, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, said the amnesty for the cultists was a result of several engagements and discussions during when many of the cultists regretted their nefarious acts and promised to turn a new leaf.
Oba Ajayi said that “not satisfied with the killings and disturbance of these cultists in the town, the community restrategised and moved against them. The heat was so much that some of them were even forced to leave the town, but they continued to beg, sending emissaries that they were ready to turn a new leaf.
“We have engaged them and told them point-blank that cultism is not the way forward, that they will only ruin their life, ruin their family name and the plans of God for their lives.
“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 monarch thanked Governor Dapo Abiodun, security agencies, and the Sagamu Security Committee for working round the clock to ensure the success of the amnesty deal for the former cultists.
Oba Ajayi begged the residents of the Sagamu community to show the repentant cultists love and support and not treat them as outcasts.
