Kunle Adelabu
Akogun Olabinjo Olarenwaju, General Commandant, Joint Local Task Force (LJTF) of the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative (IDPIL, has stated that the operational arm of the security and developmental body, has stated that there are reasons to celebrate the two years existence of IDPIL.
The gallant officer said that the LJTF has made tremendous achievements in the area of stemming the rate of crimes and criminalities in the Division, with the arrest of 185 suspected cultists and prosecution of 43 of them at the Lagos High Court.
The IDPIL – LJTF Commandant, spoke with THE IMPACT at the award ceremony of the body, which was held at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeoriyomi Akeem Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin Kingdom, on Tuesday.
“We have to celebrate the two years anniversary because, the Local Joint Task Force has made a tremendous progress in lkorodu Division, and now, you can see a Division that is cool and calm here because we did a lot of operations. So far, so good, within the short period, we arrested over one hundred and eight-five (185) cultists. While some of them have been released, we are prosecuting others”, Akogun Olabinjo said.
“Presently, we are still going to court for prosecution of about 43 of them at Lagos State High Court.
“In term of people that are selling Indian hemp and other drugs, we have also been doing a lot in arresting. Some of them have been handed over to the NDLEA, and others handed over to the police.
“So far, so good, we have tried our possible best. You know in the past, you would see cult clashes everywhere and people would be running helter – skelter, but today, you can see that Ikorodu is cool and calm. You know that in the past, festival days were period cultists usually engage in fighting and killings, but that is not the case any longer”, he said.
“When we celebrated the Osu festival, you can see that it was very peaceful, so also were Oro festivals. Presently, we have started the Eyibi festival which is Agemo festival, and you can see that everywhere is cool and calm”.
The LJTF Commandant, while assuring that the body would sustain the sanity and continue to ensure that Ikorodu Division is crime free, also informed that they have not just been arresting and prosecuting suspects, but at same time counselling them on the need to desist from committing crimes.
“People should expect more actions and great things from the IDPIL. We will continue to ensure that sanity prevails and Ikorodu Division continues to enjoy peace and tranquility”.
“In some cases, we invited some of them (cultists) for counselling and we talk to them. The major problem we are facing now is those who are taking hard drugs, but I can tell you that between now and December, you will see a lot of changes in that regard”, Akogun Olabinjo assured.
