Initiation of primary school pupils into cultism worrisome — Lagos CP

Afeez Hanafi

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, on Thursday lamented the initiation of primary school pupils in the state into cultism.

Imohimi, while receiving 139 persons who denounced their involvement in cultism in the Badagry area of the state, called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to declare a state of emergency on the social evil.

He also urged the state House of Assembly to propose a stiffer punishment for those caught indulging in cultism.

The CP said the ex-cult members in Badagry included teachers, university graduates and artisans, adding that the command would adopt “carrot and stick” approach to fight the menace.

He said those who voluntarily relinquished arms, ammunition and denounced cultism would be rehabilitated and trained in vocational skills, while those caught would get maximum punishment for the offence.

He said, “I want to use this opportunity to call on the government to declare a state of emergency on cultism. The House of Assembly needs to also award a stiffer punishment for cultists because the practice of initiating our children in primary schools is worrisome.

“We are also calling on local government chairmen and others who have the capacity to take these youths and give them vocational training so that they can come back and be reintegrated into the society and earn decent living.

“From the list handed over to me, I have seen that some of these repentant cultists are university graduates. Some have higher diplomas. Some are teachers and artisans. These are people who should be contributing meaningfully to the growth of society.”

Weapons surrendered by the repentant cult members were AK-47 guns, pump-action rifles, several locally-made pistols, axes, cutlasses and ammunition, among others.

“The weapons will be taken to the public armoury and will be well documented. All those who have renounced membership of different cult groups will be profiled, their biometrics taken and files opened for them so that we can track their progress,” the CP added.

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