Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun State, on Tuesday, declared that his administration will soon pass a law that will sentence anyone found participating in cult activities in the state to death.
Governor Abiodu, at a meeting with Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the Paramount Ruler of Remoland, and his chiefs at the Akarigbo Palace in Sagamu added that his administration would not stand by and let dishonest people start disturbances anywhere in the State.
He said: “I want to sympathize with the good and law-abiding citizens of Sagamu and of course, our referred paramount ruler and the kabiyesis and all those who have lost loved ones.
“We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that we bring any person directly, indirectly or remotely responsible for these occurrences to book. I have discussed with the Attorney General perhaps it is our disposition that allows for these occurrences of heinous crimes.
“It is well within my powers as the governor of this State to pronounce the death penalty on people and we are going to ensure that we enact that because when people appreciate and understand the consequences of their behaviours, perhaps they will begin to have a rethink.
“I have called on the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the State Service (DSS), the Commander of the Civil Defence, our AMOTEKUN Commander and all our security architecture to relocate to Sagamu for this purpose.
“We will rely on our kabiyesis because they are the closest to the grassroots, for all the intelligence support because these people are not spirits. They live within us, they are tenants in our houses.
“The last time I came here, I said any house that we arrest anybody that is connected to either cultism or kidnapping, we will find out where they live and demolish that house.
“And sadly, it has been very difficult for me to implement because they rent an apartment and the unsuspecting landlords who don’t know what they do give their houses to them and after we arrest them and about to demolish the house, those landlords will come and beg us that they did not know the suspects were into that business.
“I am now pronouncing that we will no longer refer to these people as cultists or any other name. We are pronouncing them as murderers and we will give out punishments that are deserving to murderers,” he warned.
The governor explained that going forward, he would not give in to any sentiment from any source because the hoodlums’ actions could thwart government efforts to further develop the state.
“This is an economic sabotage against our state and our people. No body should call me or my SSG nor the Commissioner of Police. I am warning parents, we are going to deal decisively with anybody caught in the act, and we will not spare anyone,” he added.
He stated that his administration was committed to the state’s progress and prosperity, and that no one would be permitted to drag the state backwards.
Oba Babatunde Ajayi, Akarigbo of Remoland, criticized the constant devastation of lives and property in the town, stating that development would not come if people continued to wreak chaos through criminal activities.
He however requested the mobile police and military forces in the area to ensure adequate law and order.
