The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cultism

  • Cultism: Police dismiss two officers in A’Ibom

    Cultism: Police dismiss two officers in A’Ibom

    The Police Command in Akwa Ibom has dismissed two of its officers over alleged aiding and abetting of cultism in the state.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit on the Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Hon. Onofiok Luke, in Uyo on Tuesday.

    Ogunjemilusi disclosed that the dismissed officers would be prosecuted with other arrested suspected cultists.

    He called on the State House of Assembly to impose stiffer penalties on cultism in Akwa Ibom, by reviewing the relevant laws.

    He also appealed to the lawmakers to support the police in ending criminal activities, under the guise of cultism.

    “We have caught two police officers, we have dismissed them and we are prosecuting them.

    “The Akwa Ibom Police command under my leadership is resolute to dismantle cultism and contain its spread in the state.

    “We are determined to confront violent crimes headlong, put an end to senseless killings amongst our youths and stamp out criminality in all forms.

    “I would like to call on this honourable house to review the state law against cultism, imposed stiffer penalties and create special programmes to reform the youths,’’ he said.

    He said the command would soon begin a clamp down on vehicles without number plates.

    He requested for the provision of patrol vehicles, gun boats, communication gadgets and equipment to aid police investigations.

    He said, “I am particularly concerned with the level of development of our youths with negative impact on peace and security.

    “The youths represent the future and this great assembly cannot afford to stand aloof and watch the youths waste away.

    “You can stand with the Nigeria Police, to bring an end to criminal activities under the guise of cultism.

    “Non use of number plates or covering of number plates are unlawful. They facilitate crimes and hinder investigations.

    “I therefore plead for the cooperation of all honourable members and government officials to ensure that their number plates are in place.

    “The command will start to impound all vehicles without number plates.”

    In his response, the Speaker commended the Police Commissioner for his quick response to security issues and community policing in the state.

    He condemned the rise of cultism in the state and said anyone caught, no matter how highly placed, should be prosecuted.

    “We are here to work for the peace, security, and lives of the Akwa Ibom people.

    “We can achieve that through good governance, and our responsibility here is to legislate for the peace, order and security of  lives and properties.

    “We will not act in any way that will hinder you from achieving that core mandate of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Police Act.

    “We share with you the concern on the rise of cultism in the state. We condemn it in its totality,’’ Luke said.

    NAN

     

  • ‘Kidnapping, cultism rampant in my domain’

    The Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Iniobong Robson, has said kidnapping and cultism are rampant in his domain.

    He said eight of 10 young men are either cultists or kidnappers, and sometimes both.

    Robson spoke at the weekend when Police Commissioner Samuel Adeyemi led top officers on a familiarisation/sensitisation tour to the council.

    He said the rate of cultism and kidnapping was becoming alarming and threatening residents.

    The chairman said business could not survive in an environment where crimes thrived.

    The police commissioner told the council chairman that his officers and men would not spare anyone involved in cultism.

    He said the tour was based on reports of increased crime rates.

    Adeyemi said the police could salvage the situation, but he wanted the cooperation of the council.

    He cautioned youths to desist from crimes and cultism.

  • Cultism: Police arrest seven in Mushin

    Cultism: Police arrest seven in Mushin

    The police have arrested seven suspected cultists, including two females, following incessant clashes between rival cult groups in Mushin area of Lagos.

    The Divisional Police Officer in Olosan area of Mushin, Adekunle Omisakin, a Chief Superintendent (CSP) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the suspects, aged between 18 and 23, were arrested in Ladipo area.

    He said that the gangs had been terrorising residents of Mushin with their incessant clashes.

    “Three cutlasses, charms and one axe were recovered from them. They will be transferred to Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad, Ikeja for further investigation,” the DPO said.

    Some of the suspects, who spoke with NAN, claimed that they were commercial bus conductors in Mushin, stressing that they were not part of the cult groups.

    NAN reports that more than 20 suspected cultists were arrested and paraded by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal, since the beginning of the year.

     

  • Cultism: Police arrest seven in Lagos

    Cultism: Police arrest seven in Lagos

    At least seven people, including two females, have been arrested following incessant clashes between rival cult groups in Mushin area of Lagos.

    The Divisional Police Officer in Olosan area of Mushin, CSP Adekunle Omisakin, said the suspects, aged between 18 and 23, were arrested in Ladipo area of the state.

    He said the gangs had been terrorising residents of Mushin with their incessant clashes.

    “Three cutlasses, charms and one axe were recovered from them. They will be transferred to Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad, Ikeja, for further investigation,” the DPO said.

    Some of the suspects claimed they were commercial bus conductors in Mushin, adding that they were not part of the cult groups.

     

  • Varsity warns freshers against cultism, others

    New students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have been advised to shun vices as the university has zero tolerance for cultism, hooliganism, indecent dressing and other social vices. They have also been advised to remember the homes they come from if they are to excel in life.

    A senior staff of the Human Resources Unit of the Registry Department, UNILORIN, Mr Kabir Adewoyin, gave the advice while answering questions on a popular Yoruba current affairs programme: ‘Oro to nlo’,  on UNILORIN 89.3 FM.

    Adewoyin, who congratulated the students for scaling the admission hurdles into the university, advised all parents to caution their children against joining bad groups and unregistered associations.

    He said any student found wanting would be expelled because students are awarded certificates if they were found worthy in character and learning.  He said after the official orientation course any student who failed to comply with the rules and regulations of the institution would be shown the way out.

    Appreciating the management of the University of Ilorin for sponsoring training and retraining of staff of the institution,  Adewoyin described the tenure of the school Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Dada Obafemi, who is the National Chairman of the Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU), as a blessing to the university.

    Adewoyin said the weekly Registry seminar and other forms of staff development programmes he initiated have put workers of the university, especially the Registry department, ahead of their contemporaries in other universities.

  • Dickson urges youths to shun cultism

    Dickson urges youths to shun cultism

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has advised youths to shun cultism.

    He said his administration was against cultism and described youths as the most important segment of the society.

    The governor spoke at Oxbow Lake Pavilion, Yenagoa during a musical concert organised by the Ministry of Tourism.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted him as advising youths to collaborate with the government and other stakeholders to actualise the desired development and stability.

    He said: “You must work with us in one area. Don’t allow people to mislead you. Say no to those who want you to join cults.

    “We don’t want to see our young people getting involved in cultism. Work with security agencies, work with your leaders, your families for the stability and security of the state.”

    Dickson enjoined youths to take advantage of institutions established by the government to improve themselves.

    He stressed that the government was interested in their happiness, which he noted was central to the state’s prosperity, stability and development.

    The governor said: “You are important to us and your happiness is key to prosperity, development and stability we have been working hard to realise in this state.”

  • Four men arraigned for ‘cultism’

    Four men, who allegedly belong to an unlawful society, Eiye Confraternity, were yesterday arraigned at an Ota Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ogun.

    Femi Olatoye, Musliu Olatunde, Fatai Aminu and Rafiu Godwin are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and  belonging to a secret cult.

    Prosecuting Corporal Mustapha Abdulkareem told the court that the accused and others at large, committed the offences on August 16, about 6.30 pm, at Ounce, Ilogbo in Ota.

    Abdulkareem said the accused and their accomplices belonged to an unlawful society, ‘Eiye confraternity’.

    He said that the offences contravened sections 3 and 5 of the Secret Cult (Prohibition and Special Provision) Act, Laws of Ogun, 1999.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate B. B. Adebowale admitted each of the accused to N100,000 bail with two sureties.

    Adebowale ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and swear to an affidavit.

    She said the sureties should provide evidence of tax payment to the government and submit four passport photographs to the court.

    Adebowale adjourned the case till January18.

  • IG’s wife urges police to shun cultism among barracks’ children

    IG’s wife urges police to shun cultism among barracks’ children

    The wife of the Inspector General of Police Barr. Asina’u Nayako Ibrahim on Tuesday expressed concern on the rate of cultism and drug abuse among barracks children and charged police officers to change the mentality the society has about them .

    These children, she said must assisted to imbibe moral values and be better members of the society.

    The IG’s wife who is also the National President of Police Officers Wives Association( POWA ) made this charge on Tuesday in Ibadan during her visit to Oyo State Police Command Headquarters, Eleyele.

    In her address, Asinau encouraged police wives to join the crusade on child modesty to create a new image about police children.

    “The work load is on our women, let us have good relationships with our children, let us be open with them, and imbibe in them moral values to make us proud.

    Speaking on the roles of a virtuous woman, Asina’u added that ” A virtuous woman should be submissive to her husband, be at peace with him and create a condusive environment for her husband to meet at home “.

    Asina’u who said her visit to Oyo state was part of her program to sensitise women on general cleanliness, a way to prevent ailments, added she had earlier visited Lagos state and would be extended to osun.

    Enjoining parents to work hand in hand in training the children, She advised ” I want all of us to come together to give our children good education and make them skillful, having it in mind that they are our future”

    By so doing, the children will shun vices such as drug abuse, cultism, stealing and make something out of their time”.

    In her welcome address, the wife of the Oyo State Commissioner of Police Mrs Balikis Odude acknowledged the effort of the National President, saying it Worth emulation.

    According to her, The IGS wife through this program stopped that something that could be a disaster if it had continued that way, Her coming to Oyo State will make something meaningful”.

    In his remarks, Oyo Commissioner of Police Abiodun Odude said ” In the 37states, Oyo state has the lower level of crime so far”.

    Odude noted that the Police Officers Wives Association( POWA)
    Is very essential in the world, adding that the police is 100% successful with the association backup. “A man cannot be dutifully in his post if he is not in peace with his wife” He said.

  • Three arraigned over cultism, firearm possession

    Three men, Rotimi Oluwasola, 30; Shittu Babatunde, 25, and Lawal Olatomiwa, 25, have appeared before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court over alleged cultism and possession of firearm.

    The defendants, whose address were unknown, are facing a two-count charge of membership of Alora confraternity( a secret cult) and possession of firearm.

    The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Okunade, told the Court that the accused committed the offences on November 8 in Ado-Ekiti.

    He said the defendants had confessed that they were members of Alora confraternity.

    Okunade also alleged that Lawal Olatomiwa did become an accessory

    after the fact of felony, when he attempted to cover up Oluwasola, known to have committed the offence of unlawful possession of firearm.

    He said the offences contravened Section 64 and 519 of the Criminal Code, Law of Ekiti State, 2012.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The defence counsel, Odunayo Okunade, urged the court to grant them bail, with a promise that they would not jump bail.

  • Three Oduduwa Varsity students remanded in prison for ‘cultism’

    Three Oduduwa Varsity students remanded in prison for ‘cultism’

    An Osun Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Ile-Ife, yesterday remanded three students of the Oduduwa University at Ipetumodu (OUI) in Osun State, in prison custody for alleged forceful initiation of a student into cultism.

    The accused – Alade Temitope, Emmanuel Tobiloba and Oluwatosin Emmanuel – are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, inflicted injuries, assault and threat to kill.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

    Magistrate Olalekan Ijiyode, while refusing the bail of the accused, said the defence counsel, Mr Wole Omotoso, should come with written application for their bail.

    The prosecutor, Mathew Imepreve, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told the court that the accused committed the offence on November 17 around 3.45 p.m at OUI at Ipetumodu.

    Imepreve said the accused conspired with the others to commit felony to wit unlawful society.

    He added that the accused unlawfully assembled themselves, beat Abdullahi Aboluwadun and cut his finger with a razor blade while initiating him into the Alora Secret Cult.