Kunle Adelabu
Following the recent resurgence in cult attacks and killings across Ikorodu division, residents have, again, started coming up with suggestions on how to deal with the menace of cultism that has negatively impacted on the community, disrupted its economic and social lives over a decade, with the hope that the authorities concerned will act accordingly.
The main lkorodu town, for the past four days, has been under siege of cult violence while many suspected cult members belonging to Eye and Ake groups, have been killed and many badly injured, a situation that has forced residents to stay indoors to avoid been caught in crossfire.
Report also has that lack of presence of conventional and non – conventional security agents has also responsible for the volatile and unpredictable atmosphere in the community as the cultists reign supreme unhindered.
In a release on Wednesday by the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ikorodu Local Government, Mr Femi Adinlewa, who was disturbed over the release of cult suspects by court and the police after their arrest in connection with cultism and other heinous crimes, in his own contribution on how to address the issue, suggested that anyone caught in connection with cultism should be given a long jail term.
He also charged security agencies to work on the intelligence available to them in apprehending the cultists and making them face the wrath of the law and restore normalcy in town.
“We need to do something about these killings going in our great town, Ikorodu. Everybody has a role to play, especially the security agents. We understand that those that are carrying out the killings now had once been arrested before (after they were caught killing) and yet, were released by the police after spending just few months in prison “, he stated.
“I think the permanent solution to these cult killings is that whenever anyone is caught in the act, he or she should be prosecuted and jailed for like 15 to 20 years. A situation where someone is caught and released after just two or three months, will give other members the courage to continue to engage in killing.
“The security agents know where these guys are. Please, go there and flush them out. Some are in Lagos while some run to Ogun State, the police commands in Lagos and Ogun States should form a genuine task force on this”, he suggested.
Adinlewa also charged families and friends to report any suspected cultist within their family to the security agencies for necessary action while also warning politicians making use of cultists to desist from doing so, stating that such act encourages crisis within the community.
“And again, we, as citizens, should report our brothers who are members of any cult group to the police or Onyabo Vigilance group. These security agencies should also, henceforth, stop revealing the identity of cult guys reported to them.
“And to you politicians in the town, stop patronizing these guys during your campaigns and elections. Those money given to them are being used to buy guns and other weapons”, he alleged.
Adinlewa added that he only gave the suggestions as ways out of the menace that seems to have defied all solutions in his capacity as a concerned resident of Ikorodu who is equally disturbed by the negative development brought about by cultism.
Meanwhile, the Administrator of the Ikorodu Ambassadors Group, Comrade Adedeji Fatuga has charged personalities in positions of positions of authority to be responsible for the protection of lives and properties of residents.
He wrote on his social media wall in response to the renewed cult killing.
“Ikorodu People in positions have to make decisions (in respect of the incessant cult killings). Their responsibility is to protect Lives and Properties” he said.
