A total of 48 individuals in the Sagamu area of Ogun State have voluntarily handed over their weapons to the Nigeria Police Force and publicly declared their decision to leave the cult groups they were once part of.
A ceremony was held at the Palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Adewale Ajayi, in the Sagamu Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday. The event aimed to highlight the reformation of cultists and assess the collection of arms and ammunition.
Strike In January, PUNCH Metro had reported that two cult groups, Neo Black Movement (popularly called Aye) and the National Association of Airlords (also known as Eiye Confraternity), Sagamu chapter, had written letters of apologies to the Akarigbo of Remoland. They humbly asked him and other traditional rulers in Remoland for forgiveness, acknowledging their past wrongdoings.
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In a widely circulated letter, the two groups humbly requested leniency and assured their commitment to upholding the laws of the nation.
The letter from the Eiye Confraternity was dated December 22, 2023, while the one from Aye was dated December 26, 2023.
The cultists have submitted a variety of weapons, demonstrating their supposed change of heart. The arsenal includes a pump action gun, four double barrels, seven single barrels, two English pistols, four locally made pistols, and 35 cartridges.
During the event, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, highlighted the police’s strategy of using moral persuasion to address the ongoing cult crises in the area. This approach has successfully convinced cultists to abandon their membership and hand over their weapons.
Alamutu emphasised the importance of the repentant cultists staying on the right path, highlighting that the police, along with the Ogun State government and traditional rulers, would collaborate to transform them into an Anti-Cultism Vanguard. This group would actively raise awareness about the perils of cultism to those who are still involved in such activities.
The CP mentioned that last year, the community experienced troubling incidents involving cultists causing unrest. As a result, the CP had to temporarily relocate to this community.
“It was the persistent nature of this crisis that brought the idea of having a second look and approach to the crisis and we thought of using moral persuasion and engagement to see if we can get results and thank God this is the outcome.
“By giving them this Olive branch, the idea is for them to turn a new leaf. I have had a closed-door meeting with Kabiyesi on how we can engage these youths. Now that we have convinced them that the right thing to do is hard work, we are going to see how we can assist them to be of use to themselves and be our vanguard so that others will have a reason to embrace peace.”
In his response, Oba Ajayi expressed that the amnesty for the cultists was a result of numerous engagements and discussions, during which many of the cultists expressed remorse for their actions and pledged to change their ways.
The monarch added, “Not satisfied with the killings and disturbance of these cultists in the town, the community re-strategised and moved against them. The heat was so much that some of them were even forced to leave the town, but they continued to beg, sending emissaries that they were ready to turn a new leaf.
“We have engaged them and told them point-blank that cultism is not the way forward, that they will only ruin their lives, ruin their family names and the plans of God for their lives.
“We told them to submit their weapons and stay away from cultism, and we have promised to integrate them into the society. It is an ongoing exercise, and we hope that their colleagues in other parts of Remoland and Ogun State as a whole will draw a vital lesson and follow suit as well.”
He expressed gratitude to Governor Dapo Abiodun, security agencies, and the Sagamu Security Committee for their tireless efforts in ensuring the success of the amnesty deal for the former cultists.
He urged the community members to embrace the repentant cultists with love and support, rather than ostracising them.
