The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Abiodun Alamutu, revealed on Tuesday that at least 48 members of various cult groups in the Sagamu area of the state have renounced their affiliations.
The repentant cultists have also voluntarily surrendered their firearms to the police for confiscation.
Weapons handed over by the renouncing cultists include one pump action gun, four double barrels, seven single barrels, two English pistols, four locally made pistols, and 35 cartridges.
Addressing the gathering during the firearms handover ceremony at the Akarigbo Palace, Alamutu emphasized that the initiative to offer amnesty to cultists aims to provide them with a second chance to become law-abiding citizens and contribute positively to peaceful coexistence in the state.
He stated, “The olive branch extended to these cultists is a result of numerous engagements. We are all familiar with the past challenges of frequent cult clashes leading to loss of lives in Sagamu.
“Collaborating with the government and traditional rulers, we initiated this process where cultists can renounce their membership and surrender any firearms without facing punitive measures.
“This aligns with the directive from the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who mandated the mop-up of illicit firearms, encouraging even licensed firearm owners to return theirs.”
Alamutu urged cultists in the state to seize the opportunity for redemption, highlighting the consequences of continuing down the path of cultism once the amnesty window closes.
In his remarks, the Akarigbo and Paramount ruler of Remo land, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, attributed the amnesty for cultists to extensive engagements and discussions, during which many cultists expressed remorse for their actions and pledged to reform.
Oba Ajayi emphasized that the community’s intolerance for the violence perpetrated by cultists prompted decisive action. He stated, “Cultism is not a viable path; it only leads to ruin. We implored them to relinquish their weapons and renounce cultism, assuring them of integration into society.”
The monarch expressed gratitude to Governor Dapo Abiodun, security agencies, and the Sagamu Security Committee for their efforts in facilitating the successful implementation of the amnesty program.
He appealed to Sagamu residents to embrace the repentant cultists with love and support, urging against ostracizing them.
