The Nigerian Police have revealed that the interference of some politicians in cases involving arrested cultists has contributed to further emboldening youths engaged in cult-related activities.
The disclosure was made during a security summit held in Owo, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area in Ondo State. Police Area Commander, Adenike Peter, called on politicians to refrain from interfering with cultism cases, particularly those involving arrested suspects.
The summit, organized by the Owo Youth Forum, aimed to find solutions to the recent surge in violent cult clashes in the community, which have resulted in the loss of over six lives. According to Peter, politicians and influential figures often exert pressure to release youths arrested for cult-related crimes. He explained that, after the arrest of such individuals, there is often political interference with claims like, “He is my brother; we should release him.”
Comrade Damilare Aina, a member of the forum, added that politicians sometimes indulge idle youths for their political benefit, only to abandon them after the elections, leaving them to resort to violence.
Dr. Yunus Anola, the Chief Imam of Government House, lamented that Owo has witnessed recurring violent crises, blaming the political class for exploiting and abandoning the youths after using them for personal agendas. He highlighted that these youths, once used for political purposes, often return to cause violence in society when they are not properly engaged. Anola emphasized the lack of safety, noting that the inability to identify the perpetrators of violence has exacerbated the insecurity, with some perpetrators being members of local religious communities.
Pastor Benjamin Olayinka, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Owo, also appealed to politicians to stop using thugs for their selfish purposes, calling for a more responsible approach to community leadership.
The deputy governor of Ondo State, Olayide Adelami, represented by his chief of staff, Kola Falohun, assured that the state government is committed to addressing the security challenges in Owo.
He expressed hope that a forthcoming stakeholders’ meeting would help make progress in tackling the issues. Falohun also pointed out that the youths involved in such activities are not inherently bad but are often neglected, with unemployment being a major contributing factor to their involvement in violence.
He emphasized the need for engagement and empowerment to address the root causes of insecurity.
