100 Youths Renounce Cult Membership In Akure
A total of 100 youths at the weekend in Akure, the Ondo state capital, openly renounced their membership of cult groups.
The repentant youths who vowed never to return to the dastardly acts related to cultism, belonged to various cult groups which included: Eye, Black Axe, Aye, Vikings and Scorpion.
They are mostly between the ages of 16 and 25 and include students and apprentices.
The repentant cultists, who filed out one after the other to make the renouncement at the palace of the paramount ruler of Akure kingdom, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlusi, later voluntarily took an oath never to go back to their various cult groups.
At the event, which was witnessed by High Chiefs, the repentant cultists also swore to an oath not to be involved in cultism, kill nor disturb the peace which the Akure community is known for.
The President of Akure Division Renewal Group (ADRG), Rotimi Tuyi said the move became imperative to flush out cultism from the community.
Tuyi described the killings perpetrated by the cultists in recent times as barbaric, evil and inhuman and appealed to the youths concerned not to turn Akure into a battle ground or theatre of war.
While urging the cultists to embrace the opportunity given to them by the community to renounce cultism , Tuyi vowed that cult members found within the community after the exercise will be dealt with.
He noted that many young men have lost their lives in the community due to cult related clashes, saying all these killings must be stopped.
He commended the leaders of the community, especially Oba Aladetoyinbo, for giving their blessing to the move to eradicate cultism in the community.
He assured the leaders that cultism will soon be a thing of the past in Akure community.
His words: “The formation of this group was initiated by the state commissioner of police, Hilda Harrison, when she called our leaders in Akure where they assured the police that we are going to join hands with the command to ensure that this menace is curbed.
“We have been enjoying police cooperation in arresting these young boys in their hideouts, convince them to renounce their membership of cultism, while some of them voluntarily come out to renounce cultism. We assured them of their protection if they are ready to turn a new leaf.
Speaking on behalf of the repentant cultists, Agoro Akinbolade promised not to go back to cultism.
