Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun State, has declared that his administration will soon pass legislation that will sentence anyone found participating in cult activities in the state to death.
This was announced by Governor Abiodun on Tuesday at a meeting with Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the Paramount Ruler of Remoland, and his chiefs at the Akarigbo Palace in Sagamu.
He expressed horror at the willful destruction of lives and the tranquilly in Sagamu and its surroundings, while also issuing a warning that the government would not stand by and let dishonest people start disturbances anywhere in the State.
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He said: “I want to sympathize with the good and law-abiding citizens of Sagamu and of course, our referred paramount ruler and the kabiyesis and all those who have lost loved ones.
“We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that we bring any person directly, indirectly or remotely responsible for these occurrences to book. I have discussed with the Attorney General perhaps it is our disposition that allows for these occurrences of heinous crimes.
“It is well within my powers as the governor of this State to pronounce the death penalty on people and we are going to ensure that we enact that because when people appreciate and understand the consequences of their behaviours, perhaps they will begin to have a rethink.
“I have called on the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the State Service (DSS), the Commander of the Civil Defence, our AMOTEKUN Commander and all our security architecture to relocate to Sagamu for this purpose.
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“We will rely on our kabiyesis because they are the closest to the grassroots, for all the intelligence support because these people are not spirits. They live within us, they are tenants in our houses.
“The last time I came here, I said any house that we arrest anybody that is connected to either cultism or kidnapping, we will find out where they live and demolish that house. And sadly, it has been very difficult for me to implement because they rent an apartment and the unsuspecting landlords who don’t know what they do give their houses to them and after we arrest them and about to demolish the house, those landlords will come and beg us that they did not know the suspects were into that business.
“I am now pronouncing that we will no longer refer to these people as cultists or any other name. We are pronouncing them as murderers and we will mete out punishments that are deserving to murderers,” he warned.
The governor declared that going forward, he would not give in to any sentiment from any source because the hoodlums’ actions could thwart government efforts to further develop the state.
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“This is an economic sabotage against our state and our people. No body should call me or my SSG nor the Commissioner of Police. I am warning parents, we are going to deal decisively with anybody caught in the act, and we will not spare anyone,” he added.
He declared that no one would be permitted to prevent the state from moving forward since his government was devoted to its growth and prosperity.
Oba Babatunde Ajayi, Akarigbo of Remoland, lamented the town’s constant loss of life and property, claiming that if individuals keep wreaking havoc through criminal activity, the community will not experience the necessary development.
He asked for military and police formations that could move about the area to maintain law and order as needed.
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Eight people were killed, while nine suspects who were detained in connection with the incident are currently being investigated, according to retired Commissioner for Police Awolowo Ajogun and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Assistant Inspector General of Police Olusola Subair (rtd), who both traced the origin of the conflict to a dispute over the sharing of proceeds from a land transaction.
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