From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
The ravaging activities of cultists in Akure, Ondo State, may soon come to an end as almost 1,000 members of various cult groups recently renounced their membership publicly and vowed to turn a new leaf.
Cult activities have been on the high side in the town for over three years claiming more than 30 lives, while many more sustained various degrees of injuries. This year alone, 15 persons were killed in cult related attacks while many were arrested and currently in police custody, with some facing prosecution in various courts.
Residents of Arakale, Gbogi, Oja-Oba and Ajilosun live in fear on daily basis as the areas are prone to cult activities, with many residents of them falling victims. This made many to relocate when it became clear that the efforts of the security agents could not help the situation.
Before now, in many parts of Akure, cultists operated both in the day and night, making life difficult for the people and paralyzing commercial activities. This is even as armed robbers used the opportunity of cult clash to carry out their operations.
The unholy activities of the cultists prompted the state Police Command to set up an anti-cultism unit. Not much was done by the unit, until the Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, waged war against the scourge by encouraging his chiefs to also wage war against cultism in their various quarters and compounds.
The traditional ruler threatened to remove any chief habouring cult members and sanction any chief in whose domain cultists strike. This development led to the call by the monarch on cult members to renounce their membership or face serious sanctions if caught.
The call yielded good results as almost 1,000 youths openly renounced their membership of various cult groups. The youths who converged on the palace of the Deji of Akure confessed and promised to turn a new leaf. The youths were between the ages of 16 and 25, included students and apprentices belong to various cult groups including Eye, Black Axe, Aye, Vikings and Scorpion.
They, however failed to surrender any arms, but vowed never to go back to the groups. They swore to an oath not to be involved in cultism, killing or disturbing the peace of Akure and Ondo State at large.
President of Akure Division Renewal Group (ADRG), Rotimi Tuyi, said the moves became imperative to flush out cultism from the community. He described the killings perpetrated by the cultists in recent times as barbaric, evil and inhuman. He appealed to the concerned youths not to turn Akure to a battleground.
He stressed the need for other unrepentant cultists to embrace the opportunity given them by the community, saying any cult member found within the community would be dealt with: “Cultism is a deadly menace which has been destroying the lives of the youths of the town and rendering them hopeless.
“Some of the cultists took to armed robbery and kidnapping, posing serious threat to the security of the town and the state at large. Many young men lost their lives due to cult related clashes. All these killings must be stopped. The repentant cultists are assured of adequate protection.”
Speaking on behalf of the repentant cultists, Agoro Akinbolade, promised they would not return to cultism or participate in any cult activity again. He called on politicians to give priority to the welfare of the people rather than using youths as thugs.
He frowned at the indiscriminate arrest of innocent youth by the police, calling on government to surmount the issue of cultism through empowerment and human development programmes. He also pleaded with the police to ensure their protection and safety: “Our lives are now at risk and we have become threat to others who are still in various cult groups.”
Oba Aladetoyinbo’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Michael Adeyeye, said the exercise was aimed at eradicating illegal activities of cultists, especially killing in the town. He explained that a traditional rite was performed at the palace on those who renounced their membership:
“There are some people who did the cleansing for them (cultists) at the palace but I don’t know how they did it. All I know is that they are made to swear an oath that they will not go back to cultism, and they have been empowered spiritually.”
Police also expressed satisfaction with the development, saying the town would now be relieved of cult activities with the development. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, said police are on top of security situation, adding that they will continue to ensure security of lives of the people.