News
48 Cultist Surrenders Firearms, Renounce Membership In Ogun
In a bid to quell the alarming surge of violence usually caused by cultist clashes in Ogun State, particularly in Sagamu, forty-eight youths have taken the bold step of renouncing their membership in cult groups.
This significant development comes alongside the surrender of firearms by those who possessed them illegally, marking a pivotal moment in the state’s efforts to combat crime and restore peace.
The arms submitted includes onepump action, four double barrels, seven single barrels, two english pistol, four locally made pistol and thirty-five cartridges.
Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Abiodun Alamutu, affirmed the progress, stating, “Aside from those licensed to bear firearms, no other person is permitted to possess them. Anyone found in possession of firearms after this will be treated as a criminal.”
He emphasized the importance of ongoing profiling and the forthcoming stage of the program, which will involve the public parading of those who have renounced their involvement in cult activities.
“After adequately profile them, they’ll be paraded. What we will encourage members of the community so that they don’t treat them as outcast because we know from experience that some of them found themselves in this fold , it was after they have been entrapped in it, they now understand what cultism is and it’s never easy to opt out because of fear of attack. Now that they’re bold enough to surrender what we should do is to reintegrate them as legitimate and law abiding members of the community.”
Acknowledging the complexities surrounding cultism, the Akarigbo of Remo Land Oba Babatunde Ajayi emphasized the need for community engagement and support in facilitating the reintegration of former cult members.
He highlighted the collaborative efforts between the community, law enforcement, and armed forces in addressing the security challenges and expressed optimism in the willingness of surrendered individuals to contribute positively to society.
Special Adviser to the Ogun State Government on Security Matters, Olusola Zubair, commended the collective endeavour that led to the surrender of arms, attributing it to the perseverance and resilience of all stakeholders involved.
He underscored the potential for replicating such initiatives in other areas grappling with similar issues, emphasizing the paramount importance of peace for sustainable development.
“We know that development can only strive where there’s an atmosphere of peace and that’s what we’re clamouring for here. I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all other sectors of this state that what we are doing in sagamu today, is doable in other places also . I want to thank the Governor of Ogun State for giving us that support.
“I want to say this is not all the arms that they have been using but just as the Akarigbo said , it’s a continuous process , we are still in that process of recovering these firearms and am sure that most of them will know now that crime doesn’t pay so it is better to live in peace . All of us should live in unity and that’s what will bring development to our state.”
The Director of Department State Services (DSS) Folashade Adekayajo represented by Deputy Director of Operations and Intelligence, Sikiru Kolawole, echoed the call for individuals involved in cult activities to embrace peace and renounce violence.
He emphasized the crucial role of community members in providing information to aid law enforcement efforts in curbing criminal activities.
By Gloria Ikibah
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has hailed his Deputy, Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, as a rising force in Nigeria’s political landscape, describing him as a man whose journey is only just beginning.
Abbas gave the remarks on Tuesday inside the chamber, shortly after plenary, as members of the House gathered to celebrate Kalu’s 54th birthday with a brief ceremony and a cake-cutting session.
Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, turned 54 on Monday.
A lawyer by training and former spokesperson for the House, he has grown into a familiar face not just within Nigeria’s legislature but also across international parliamentary networks.
In recent times, Kalu has taken on significant continental and global responsibilities. He chairs the Finance and Administrative Committee of the ECOWAS Parliament and leads the African Union Parliament’s Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs. He is also an active member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and sits on the steering committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization.
His colleagues describe him as strategic, forward-looking, and quietly ambitious, a lawmaker whose blend of eloquence and diplomacy has made him a respected voice both at home and abroad.
Speaking to journalists after the brief celebration, Abbas said, “Benjamin Kalu is not just a Deputy Speaker. He is a man with vision, poise, and the kind of political maturity that Nigeria will need even more in the years to come. His future is very bright.
Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is working towards consensus candidates for the upcoming primary election scheduled for Saturday.
The move is part of the party’s efforts to maintain unity and reduce internal frictions.
Five aspirants emerged unopposed following the screening organised by the party.
The incumbent Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Sulaimon Yusuf; his counterpart in Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Jubril Yisa; Motunrayo Alogba of Ijede LCDA and Kasali Bamidele in Lekki LCDA emerged unopposed. A new aspirant, Azeez Kareem, was the only person cleared to contest in Oto-Awori LCDA.
Chairman of the APC Lagos State Electoral Committee, Babatunde Ogala, SAN, in an interview with The Nation, disclosed that more aspirants had emerged unopposed following interventions from the party leaders.
He expressed optimism that many more aspirants would step down before the Saturday primary election.
“We are hoping to have at least 70 per cent consensus candidates going into the primary election. If we can achieve that, it will leave us with only 30 per cent to conduct primaries for,” he said.
According to him, the appeal committee, headed by Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, SAN, has been sitting for the past two days and has received over 100 petitions.
Ogala said the committee had treated over 70 of the petitions and would conclude their assignment today (Wednesday).
He explained that while the party had prepared for indirect primaries, involving delegates drawn from local government executives, efforts were ongoing at various levels to arrive at consensus candidacies in many wards.
He said electoral materials were being finalised for distribution by Saturday, with electoral officers already appointed to oversee the process in all 57 local councils.
Ogala said security had been fully arranged in collaboration with the police, DSS, civil defence and Lagos traffic officials to ensure order and smooth movement at the secretariats where the primaries were expected to take place.
According to him, the party is also scheduled to hold a key stakeholders’ meeting today with senior officials and aspirants to finalise agreements and chart the way forward.
President of Inner Galaxy Group, Mr. Li Shuang, yesterday, disclosed that his company was ready to set up a $400 million hot rolled coiled steel factory with the capacity to employ about 6,500 direct and indirect workers in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.
He made this known while leading a delegation of principal officials of the organization at the Governor’s Office located at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
He added that the company is expected to commence operations in April 2026, saying the organization, a multinational company with vast investments in Asia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and some African countries like Ghana and Angola, entered the Nigerian market in 2005, producing iron rods for the building industry.
Governor Dapo Abiodun expressed delight in the huge investment, as he ascribed the success to his administration’s deliberate and intentional move to make the state the leading industrial hub in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region.
“This is a $400 million investment; this aligns with the President’s vision to ensure that we grow this economy to a trillion dollars, and I think that you will be contributing your quota in achieving that. We are excited that you will also be employing people.
“I will be commissioning a multimillion-dollar diagnostic equipment facility during the week. This administration has managed to attract quite a lot of industries in the last six years,”
Abiodun noted that the state is blessed with abundant human and natural resources, adding that alluvial gold had been discovered in large quantities, just as the state has the highest quality of lithium.
-
Opinion20 hours agoRIVERS, WIKE, FUBARA, AND THE WAY FORWARD
-
Politics19 hours agoJust in: Delta PDP Reps members defect to APC
-
News21 hours agoNANS Barricades Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Over Alleged NELFUND Mismanagement
-
News17 hours agoTension As Lawmakers Warns of Public Revolt Over Insecurity
-
News21 hours agoCourt bans Nnamdi Kanu’s in-law from 3 proceedings over live streaming
-
News16 hours agoEdo Speaker, Two Other Lawmakers, Formally Join APC
-
News17 hours agoRep Raises Alarm After Deadly Attacks In Borno, Says Boko Haram Is Returning Stronger
-
News6 hours agoTinubu presents N1.78 trillion FCT budget to NASS