Cultist group renounce membership in Ondo

About one hundred repentant youths in Akure, the Ondo state capital, renounced their membership of the confraternity cult groups on Monday. The repentant youths mostly between the ages of 18 and 25 belonged to the cult groups of the Eye, Black Axe, Aye, Vikings and Scorpion confraternities.

Daily Times observed that the youths who are mainly students sworn to an oath not to be involve in cultism, killing or disturbing the peace of the state.

The oath taking was held at the palace of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlusi with some High Chiefs in attendance.

The President of Akure Division Renewal Group (ADRG), Rotimi Tuyi, said the moves became imperative to flush out cultism from Akure Town.

Tuyi lamented over the killings perpetrated by some member cult group in the town while describing it as barbaric, evil and inhuman.

He appealed to the youths concerned not to turn Akure to a battle ground or theatre of war, irrespective of the reasons for their actions but to embrace the olive branch extended to them.

Tuyi stressed the need for the cultists to embrace the opportunity given to them by the community to renounce cultism saying any cult member found within the community will be dealt with.

According to him, cultism is a deadly menace which has been destroying the lives of the youth of the community and rendering them hopeless.

He added that some of the cult group had taken to armed robbery and kidnapping which has become a threat to the security of the state.

He noted that many young men have lost their lives in the community due to cult related clashes, saying all these killings must be stopped.

Tuyi commended Oba Aladetoyinbo and other leaders of the town for their effort to taming and stamping out cultism in the community.

He however called for support from all the security agents in the state to join hands with the community to curb and eradicate cultism in the state.
“The formation of this group was initiated by the state commissioner of police, Hilda Harrison, when she called our leaders in Akure where they assured the police that we are going to join hands with the command to ensure that this menace is curbed.

“We have been enjoying Police Corporation in arresting these young boys in their hideout, convince them to renounce their membership of cultism, while some of them voluntarily come out to renounce cultism. We assured them of their protection if they are ready to turn a new leaf.

The group assured the repentant cultists of adequate police protection and urged them to stay away from cult activities.

Speaking on behalf of the repentant cultists, Agoro Akinbolade, promised not to go back into cultism or participate in any cult activities again.

He called on politicians in the state to give priority to the welfare of the people rather than using youths in the state as thugs.

Akinbolade frowned over indiscriminate arrest of innocent youth in the town by the security agencies mostly the police.

He called on the state government to ensure it always wade into the issue of cultism through empowerment and human development programmes.