The Oba of Imota, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Bakare-Agoro, yesterday revealed that at least 120 youths had sworn at an ancestral shrine in the community not to return to cultism after renouncing it.
According to Bakare-Agoro, the youth took oath and vowed they would never go back to cultism. He disclosed that anyone of the youth that failed to keep to the oath would die.
Bakare-Agoro said: “I feel elated today. There is no year in the last seven years that they would not kill one another. The police would come to arrest some of them, but the kingpins would run away. This process started over a month ago. I consulted with them in privacy in the palace. They will not go back to cultism because they had been to the traditional shrine where the first Oba of Imota first stayed. We asked them to swear that if anybody goes back, it will kill him in three days. I have advised them that there is gain in crime. For all those, who are running around because somebody wants to kill them, if that ceases, they will be able to go back to work and work productively.”
The 120 youths renounced cultism at Imota area of Lagos State, surrendering their weapons. The members were said to have renounced cultism membership at the palace of Ranodu of Imota, Oba Ajibade Bakare-Agoro. The exercise was presided over by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Edgal Imohimi.
Imohimi said that the renunciation was the outcome of the state police command’s emphasis on community policing.
He recalled that a similar event was held at Ikorodu recently, where 500 persons renounced cultism, urging other communities in the state to follow suit.
Imohimi said: “Over 120 youths have voluntarily renounced cultism and handed over their weapons to the police. The significant thing about this process is not about the number of those renouncing cultism or the quantity of arms they tendered. What is most significant is that a process has started, whereby youths are now indicating interest not only to renounce cultism and other forms of crime, but also to take up vocational jobs and be integrated back into the society as responsible men and women. Their profiles will be taken, and be rest assured that this process is credible.
“Another thing is that this was powered by the Oba of Imota, which shows that our strategy of community policing and community safety partnership is working and yielding desired results. Monarchs, chiefs and senior citizens of communities have a strong role to play in their various communities. They should use their positions to call on youths to renounce cultism, drug abuse and other crimes.”
Shortly after Imohimi addressed journalists in company with the two leaders of the cults, and displayed guns and axes recovered from them, our correspondent saw some “ex-members” smoking Indian hemp in front of shops around the venue.
The leader of Aye Confraternity, Joseph Fasasi, said they decided to turn a new leaf following several entreaties by the monarch and other community leaders.
He promised that the two groups would henceforth maintain peace in the neighborhood.
Fasasi added: “My parents are from this community and we don’t want any more fighting. If we continue to fight, peace will not reign. Tenants are leaving the community. Tenancy is cheap here because people are afraid to live here. That was why we called one another and decided to let peace reign.”
A top member of Eye Confraternity, Prince Bolatito, who spoke for the leader of the group, popularly called Spirit, said, “We (Eye and Aye members) have started going to beer parlor together. There is no more violence. We will hand over, whoever refuses to shun violence to the government.”
The chairman, Imota Local Council Development Area, Wasiu Kunle-Agoro, said the council, the state government and political office holders from the community would work together to engage the youths in lawful activities.
His words: “ We have made a plan where some of these members will be absorbed into some vocational jobs. We want to make them to be gainfully employed so that idle hands will no longer be tolerated. They are tired of the activities of their group and came out voluntarily to renounce their membership.”
First Published 2017
