The Nigerian police have disclosed that moves by some politicians to free arrested cultists have continued to embolden youths involved in cult-related activities.
While disclosing this during a security summit in Owo, headquarters of the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, the Police Area Commander, Adenike Peter, admonished politicians to stop interfering in cases relating to cultism, particularly suspects already arrested.
The summit was organised by Owo Youth Forum towards finding a lasting solution to the recent violent cult clashes in the ancient community, which has claimed over six lives.
According to Peter, politicians and some influential persons always mount pressure after the arrest of youths allegedly involved in cultism and gangsterism.
“So, this is one of the major problems we have. Many a time, when we arrest these miscreants, politicians will start calling, saying, He is my brother; we should release them.”
Also, a member of the forum, Comrade Damilare Aina, revealed that politicians usually indulge youths, especially the idle ones, for their political gains and thereafter abandon them.
With the Chief Imam, Government House, Dr. Yunus Anola, lamenting that Owo community had witnessed incessant violent crisis, blame the political class for dumping the youths after using them.
“Those boys used for political engagements do turn back to unleash violence on the society because they are not engaged. This is the background of our problems. Many youths are wayward.
“We are not safe; inability to disclose perpetrators of evil has also caused the insecurity. Many of them are members of our church and mosque, and we are even fortifying them. The traditional rulers also have a lot of roles to play because they are custodians of culture and traditions,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of the Christians Association of Nigeria, CAN, Owo chapter, Pastor Benjamin Olayinka, appealed that politicians must desist from using thugs for personal agendas and selfish purposes.
The deputy governor of the state, Olayide Adelami, who was represented by his chief of staff, Kola Falohun, stated that the state government is committed to tackling the security challenges in the ancient town.
“We are believing that by the time we do the main stakeholders’ meeting that will be organised by the Office of the Deputy Governor soon, we will make a headway.
“These boys are actually not bad; only we are not engaging them. They are our brothers and sisters. We will engage them and know if there are grievances and empower them because lack of a job is a major flashpoint.”
DAILYPOST
