Cultism and its activities are social menace bedevilling Ogun State; poised to fight this menace, the State Government has come up with a comprehensive plan aimed at eradicating cultism in the State.
Many residents of the State have either lost their lives or suffered injuries as a result of cult clashes. The most recent cult clash, which occurred in Sagamu area of the State on Monday, resulted in the death of eight persons, leading to the convergence of a joint security meeting.
During the meeting on Wednesday, the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who has previously termed cultism as an act of terrorism, said the primary focus to tackle cultism is centered on establishing a special court, forming a joint operational force comprising various security agencies, and implementing a death penalty for cultism offenses.
He stressed his administration’s unwavering commitment to fostering a peaceful and violence-free society as well as providing the Special Court and Joint Anti-Cultism Security Task Force with the necessary resources and support to execute their duties effectively.
“In addition to these measures, we also deliberated on the possibility of introducing a period of amnesty. This would allow individuals who wish to surrender their weapons and renounce their affiliation with any cult-related groups and activities the opportunity to do so without fear of prosecution
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“The overall objective of our conversation is to address the issue of cultism through a multifaceted approach. This will include legal and enforcement measures, rehabilitation efforts, and community engagement through our respected traditional leaders,” he said.
By employing a combination of legal frameworks, law enforcement strategies, rehabilitation initiatives, and community involvement, the government hopes that there will be a lasting change.
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