48 repentant cultists have handed over their weapons to the Nigeria Police Force and renounced their ties to various cult groups in Sagamu, Ogun State.
The ceremony, aimed at profiling the former cult members and collecting their arms and ammunition, took place at the Palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Adewale Ajayi, in the Sagamu Local Government Area on Tuesday.
Earlier reports from January revealed that two prominent cult groups, Neo Black Movement (popularly called Aye) and the National Association of Airlords (known as Eiye Confraternity), Sagamu chapter, had penned letters of apology to the Akarigbo of Remoland.
In these letters, dated December 22 and December 26, 2023, respectively, the groups sought forgiveness and pledged to abide by the country’s laws.
The surrendered weapons include one pump action gun, four double barrels, seven single barrels, two English pistols, four locally made pistols, and 35 cartridges. Addressing the event, the Commissioner of Police for Ogun State, Abiodun Alamutu, attributed the success of the initiative to the police’s approach of moral persuasion in addressing the prevalent cult crises in the area.
Alamutu emphasized the importance of the repentant cultists remaining steadfast in their newfound resolve and announced plans to collaborate with the Ogun State government and traditional rulers to establish an Anti-Cultism Vanguard. This group aims to dissuade others from engaging in cult activities and promote peace within the community.
In response, Oba Ajayi acknowledged the culmination of numerous engagements and discussions with the repentant cultists, during which many expressed remorse for their past actions and committed to embracing a positive path forward. He highlighted the community’s efforts to combat cultism and called on residents to welcome the former cultists with love and support, urging against treating them as outcasts.
The monarch extended gratitude to Governor Dapo Abiodun, security agencies, and the Sagamu Security Committee for their concerted efforts in facilitating the success of the amnesty program. He expressed hope that the ongoing exercise would serve as a lesson for cultists in other parts of Remoland and Ogun State, encouraging them to follow suit and abandon their involvement in cult activities.
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