The Chairman, PCRC in Ogun State, Ven Dr. Samson Kunle Popoola has called on
traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community elders not to shield known cult members in their various communities.
He also urged the Religious leaders to use their platforms to condemn cultism.
Popoola made this known at PCRC Remo 2023 Security Summit themed “Nigeria Youths Tools For National Development Not Destruction” held at the Akarigbo Palace hall, Sagamu on Wednesday.
He maintained that cult killings are on the rise and criminal gangs have become bolder, killing, maiming and destroying property of rival gang members and innocent citizens alike.
“Traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community elders should not shield known cult members. Religious leaders should use their platforms to condemn cultism. Civil society groups and rights activists should mobilise the people against cultists and their backers and sponsors.
“Civil society groups and rights activists should mobilise the people against cultists and their backers and sponsors.
“Sagamu can not continue to be portrayed as a haven of cultism. We must not deny our youths gainful employment opportunities just because they hail from a certain town. Economic and social strangulation is an invitation to poverty and penury.
“The recent cold-blooded murder of some residents of Sagamu and its environ by suspected cultists as well as the burning of banks and other critical government and private Infrastructures during the naira exchange saga is a sad reminder of the severe damage that cultism is inflicting on the town, the State and even the country.
“Cult killings are on the rise, and criminal gangs have become bolder, killing, maiming, and destroying property of rival gang members and innocent citizens alike.
“It is in realisation of these and many more that the Ogun State Police Community Relations Committee thought it wise to organise this summit to find a lasting solution to the menace threatening the economic and social ambience of this ancient city.
“While thanking the state government and our security team, We make bold to say that the security agencies and our state governor need to mobilise all available resources to stamp out the menace once and for all to restore the Omoluwabi etho of our dear state.
“We, however, believe that as critical stakeholders, we also need to lend our civil voice to the fight against cultism and other vices, for as the saying goes,’injury to one is injury to all’.
“With neither conscience nor remorse, cultists often strike in broad daylight, sometimes operating for hours, leaving in their wake, death, destruction, and broken bodies. The bloodbath thrives because of the involvement of powerful sponsors and end beneficiaries in politics, chieftains, land grabbing, and civil misunderstandings, In unison however, the society must come together to neutralise cultists and their sponsors before they render our dear state ungovernable.
“Campus and community rivalries, clashes, and conflicts highlight the reality of the increasing danger of these menace. Every junction and intersections now seem to have a cult cell of its own. Casualties figures are sometimes shielded in obscurity due to the embarrassment it will cause to both government and community at large.
“Cultism also flourishes outside the campuses. Most worrisome is the involvement of children and teenagers. As the ‘leaders of tomorrow,’ this portends grave implications for the state’s future. The ‘Awawa Boys’ cult group of Agege and the ‘One Million Boys ’of Ajegunle-Apapa in Lagos, among others, are primary and secondary school pupils High on drugs, they rob and rape and terrorise communities. Sometimes, their fights result in deaths and serious injuries.
“In several high-density areas of this town, neighbourhood gangs regularly invade streets, damaging vehicles and shops, and attacking both opponents and the innocent with assorted weapons.
“For several months now, rival cults have continued to destabilise Sagamu, as they battled for supremacy.
Some callous cultists are not satisfied with killing just a rival cult member, they will also cut off hands,legs, torso, or even the head as memento.
“This community, in conjunction with the police and other security agencies, must fight cultism to a standstill.
“The Divisional Police Officers and other head of agencies must continue in their synergy to identify
and arrest troublemakers and ensure their being brought to justice no matter whose ox is gored.
“We must re-strategise and effectively address cultism issues within our jurisdictions as Kabiyesis, Baales, CDC and CDA chairmen, community and youth leaders, market leaders, union leaders, head of tertiary and other educational institutions. It is our civic and moral responsibility, so to do.
“Arrested cultists must be prosecuted to serve as deterernt to others while extending the olive branch for genuine repentant.
“Our State government through the instrumentality of the ministry of education and social welfare agencies as well as the Parent Teachers Association under whatever name should upgrade social services, monitoring and surveillance of schools to stamp out cultism in primary and secondary schools.
“Traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community elders should not shield known cult members. Religious leaders should use their platforms to condemn cultism. Civil society groups and rights activists should mobilise the people against cultists and their backers and sponsors.
“Sagamu can not continue to be portrayed as a haven of cultism. We must not deny our youths gainful employment opportunities just because they hail from a certain town. Economic and social strangulation is an invitation to poverty and penury.
“Let us all use this gathering to search our souls and come out with suggestions, even if privately or anonymously, to chart a way forward for our great town.
Meanwhile, the commissioner of police in Ogun State, CP Alamutu Abiodun Mustapha while speaking on the topic titled “Nigeria Youths As Tools For National Development And Not For Destruction said the youths have been at the forefront of various movements and organizations in the country.
The commissioner who was represented by his deputy, Sagir Ismail disclosed that Nigeria youths are valuable asset to development of the country.
He said “It is my pleasure to address youall today Wednesday 25h October, 2023, at this all important summit on security, with the theme “NIGERIAYOUTH AS TOOLS FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NOT DESTRUCTION”. There cannot be a better time than now, especially in the light of recent happenings in Sagamu and other parts of our dear State.
As we are all aware, Nigeria youths make up asignificant figure of our population and they have been at the forefront of various movements and organizations in our country.
“Their influence and impacts in our society is strategicand can only be ignored at our own peril.
“However, we have seen instances where some of these movements
were hijacked and degenerated into violence against the State and
its institutions with its attendant wanton destruction of lives, public and private properties. e.g the unfortunate Sagamu crisis where some financial institutions were attacked by irate youth
protesting against the naira re-design policy of the Federal Government earlier this year.
“As the Commissioner of Police Oqun State Police Command, I strongly believe that the Nigeria youths are valuable asset to our nation’s development.
“One of the key tools that the Nigeria youth needs to be equipped
with is education. Education is a powerful tool that can transform
lives and communities. It is essential that we invest in education of our youth, as it will equip them with the requisite knowledge and skills to contribute positively to the growth of our communities, State and our country as a whole.
“Another tool that the Nigerian youth needed is mentorship. As leaders in our various fields, we need to take time to mentor the youth and guide them towards making positive and impactfuldecisions.
“We must serve as positive role models, demonstrating integrity, transparency and accountability. Furthermore, we must- prioritize the creation of job opportunities for the youth. Unemployment is a major challenge facing our country today and is partially responsible for the spontaneous
of our youth to issues that should have been resolved through dialogue.
“We must therefore work towards providing job opportunities for the youth, either through direct employment or
entrepreneurship.
“In conclusion, I want to repeat that the Nigerian youth are critical stakeholders to the development of our communities,
State and Nigeria, and therefore, as leaders, we most prioritize positive youth empowerment for their growth and development.
“We must all work together to provide our teaming youth with necessary tools for success and equip them to be responsible, productive and law abiding citizens.
” I urge all of us gathered here
today to collaborate with Nigeria Police Force, PCRC, and other. Sister security agencies to create actionable plans that will ensure the Nigerian youth are tools for development and not destruction.
Also the Patron of PCRC in Ogun State, High Chief Dr. Olakunle Olalekan in his remarks said “The youths globally are challenged at this time. Their energy can produce great positive results if channelled in the right direction intentionally.
“We must do all to support encourage educate train our youths for a great today and greater tomorrow.
“The energy of youths with the expertise and experience of elders can do wonders in any society.
“The importance of youths as veritable tools for development cannot be over stressed.
“The mindset of the youths should be nurtured to understand morals, values, Business ethics and how there is no short cut.
“The youths are being used today is becoming terrible for short term gains.
“I noticed that the more elections come closer, the more politicians also come closer to the youths. Mothers can control or train kids with good values cos of poverty state as the child through fraudulent means atimes has become the breadwinner.
“The youths should find out who they want to be , and how to form that identity. We need mentor mentor programmes from schools, work experience for students to learn process. Youths should be at the forefront of global change and innovation.
“Political leaders and companies or entrepreneurs should empower the youths, give them scholarships, empower them based on their skills. The youths are the engine room for development.
Other security agencies present were the Ogun State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, David Idowu Ojelabi mni, So-Safe Commander, Dr. Soji Ganzallo, represented by the Corps Director of Information, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf , Remo Deputy Commander of NDLEA, ACN Adebisi Adewale, among others
Educationists, parents, CDC, ACDC, Community leaders, students and youths were also in attendance in their number
