By Saheed Ibrahim
Cult groups memberships are spreading rapidly among artisans, commercial motorcyclists , otherwise known as Okada riders and drivers in Ondo State, The Hope investigation has revealed.
Most popular ones among the fraternities existing among the artisans, riders, drivers and others in the state are the Aiye and Eye .
Findings at the State High Court and Correctional Centre Services revealed that majority of cultism related cases at the courts were linked to commercial motorcyclists, drivers and artisans.
The trend which hitherto was noticeable among students is now endemic among Okada riders, drivers and artisans and also becoming all comers affair, thus posing great challenges to security architecture in the state.
In the last few weeks, majority of suspects arraigned over cultism charges and other crimes such as murder, illegal possession of firearms and threat to members of the public at the state High Court, none of them involved students.
Those who featured prominently were Okada riders and artisans.
In a case involving nine men, only one of the suspects was a student; others were artisans and riders.
Meanwhile, a large number of the suspects have found cultism as a major source of getting money.
A source at the Olokuta correctional centre revealed that more than 70 percent of inmates at the facility, facing cultism cases are okada riders, drivers, barbers and artisans.
It was gathered that reasons for their involvement in cultism also included peer influence, protection, political power and following trends.
Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo confirmed that cultism has become endemic and no more tertiary students affair.
His words: “That is the latest development in this country now, we have a lot of them; even primary school students, secondary school students are into cultism.
“Parents too have share in the blame. So it is all over. It is no more a student activity; it is now artisans, and okada riders.
Dojumo reiterated the commitment of the state government to rid the Sunshine state of cultism.
“We are working. We are doing our best to ensure that we bring that problem to zero level. We are doing our best to ensure that it stop.
“That is why you see us raiding houses, dark spots, going after them, fishing them out from wherever they are and immediately we have evidence to charge them to court, we do that”, the Special Adviser said.
It would be recalled that Governor Akeredolu, last year had sent strong warning to cultists in the state after several deadly cult attacks were reported in different parts of the state, especially in Okitipupa, Igbokoda, Owo and Ikare Akoko, with the attendant violence, death and disruption of public peace, which are pointedly indicative of socio-political instability.
The Governor said, “One emerging security concern that our State is facing is the unfortunate activities of cultists. The State Government has observed lately, the upsurge in their violent activities in the State.
“Our administration frowns at this development. A situation where our State has been turned to battle ground for rival cult groups shall no longer be tolerated.
“Let me sound a note of warning to all cult groups and their sponsors that we will not spare any effort in dealing with anyone caught engaging in dastardly acts.
“Towards this end, I have instructed our security agencies to clampdown on all cultists in Ondo State and deal decisively with any person found engaging in cult-related activities and ensure that they are arrested and prosecuted in line with extant laws.”
The Governor further warned that any traditional ruler found unable to contain the activities of cultists in his domain shall be sanctioned by the government according to the law.
