Kunle ADELABU
Police Commissioner, Mr Zubairu Muazu with other officers during the parade of 202 suspected cultists in Ikorodu on Monday
The Lagos Police Command on Monday, June 10, 2019, stated that plans are in place to totally fight cultism to a standstill in the state.
Police Commissioner, Mr Zubairu Muazu, disclosed this during the parade of 202 suspected cultists said to have terrorised different parts of the State in recent times at the Ikorodu Police Divisional Headquarters along Ikorodu-Igbogbo/Oba Ogunlewe road.
The police chief, who stated that credible intelligence has been gathered on the activities of these hoodlums, added that the command has initiated far reaching approach to combat them.
“We have observed the activities of those cult groups and gangs for the last one month and credible intelligence was gathered. We have reviewed our strategies and have initiated far reaching approach to totally eradicate this menace”.
Zubairu, while addressing journalists during the parade, also identified various cult groups within the state.
“The various cult groups and gangs identified within the state include Aiye and Eiye confraternities, One million boys at Ajengule, Fadeyi boys at Fadeyi area, Akala boys at Mushin area, Nokia group at Surulere area, Shitta boys at Bariga, Oworonshoki, Shomolu and Palm grove areas, Awawa boys at Dopemu, Agege, Ogba and lyana-Ipaja.
The Police chief stated that the command has launched ‘Operation Crush’ aimed at ending the cultism and gangster menaces.
“This Special operation we are flagging off today is code named ‘Operation Crush’. It’s aimed at ending Cultism and Gangsterism in Lagos State and it will be directly under my command. Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers will personally lead the various operations in their areas of jurisdiction”.
While reading the riot act to the cultists, he enjoined them to either renounce their membership or face the full wrath of the law.
“Let me, therefore, use this medium to sound a warning to members of those gangs and cult groups to either renounce membership of such cults and gangs or be prepared to face the full weight of the law. This is a promise”, he declared.
The CP also warned parents and guardians to assist in eradicating the criminal acts by monitoring their children while also seeking the assistance of residents in fighting the menace.
“And to parents and guardians of those youths, my message is simple, monitor the activities and movements of your children and wards and make sure that their mission on the public space are legitimate otherwise, they should stay clear.
“Let me call on everyone, both old and young, rich and poor, to join us in this noble fight. We must cleanse our communities of those few criminal elements who have threatened our social and economic well-being. Together, we can subdue them…”.
More so, he stated that police will be adopting community approach in tackling the activities of the cultists that have paralysed social and economic activities of some parts of the state.
“Tackling cultism requires a holistic approach. We intend to adopt community policing approach.
“ We will soon embark on sensitization programs in collaboration with Police Community Relations Committee and other stakeholders in Schools, Neighborhoods and Media. We will equally establish Police Students Relations Committee, comprising all the Students Union Presidents and other Students leaders.
“We will organize town hall meetings in areas mostly affected by cult activities. The meetings will discuss extensively, the root causes of cultism and gangsterism in the affected areas and the possible solutions”.
After the press briefing, CP Zubairu visited the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, at his palace in the company of other senior police officers, including the Commander of the Area ‘N’ Command in Ijede,Ajeloju Shonubi.
At the palace, CP Zubairu had a brief closed door meeting with Oba Shotobi who later announced that a town hall meeting has been fixed for June 25, 2019, for the Police Commissioner to address residents of Ikorodu.
