Cult killings: Ogun monarch goes traditional way, imposes curfew

The Akarigbo of Remoland in Ogun State, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, has adopted traditional measures to tackle the rising spate of cult killings in Sagamu. Oba Ajayi, who is the Chairman of the state’s traditional council, has resorted to traditional intervention to tame the crisis. He announced that some parts of Sagamu would witness traditional rites […]

The Akarigbo of Remoland in Ogun State, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, has adopted traditional measures to tackle the rising spate of cult killings in Sagamu.

Oba Ajayi, who is the Chairman of the state’s traditional council, has resorted to traditional intervention to tame the crisis. He announced that some parts of Sagamu would witness traditional rites to stop the clashes in the area.

According to a release from his palace on Wednesday, the monarch said the popular Akarigbo Road, from Cinema Road unction/Total Petrol Station up to RSS Roundabout, would be closed to all vehicular and human movements from 4pm on Thursday, July 7.

The curfew, which will last till 4am on Friday, is to enable the custodians of culture and tradition carry out rites in the affected areas top tame the security challenges facing Remo town.

Oba Ajayi regretted the short notice, urging the people to cooperate with the palace.

A statement from his palace reads in part: “This is to inform the general public that Akarigbo Road, from Cinema Road Junction/Total Petrol Station up to RSS Roundabout, will be closed to all vehicular and human movements between 4pm tomorrow Thursday, 7th July, 2022 and 4am Friday, 8th July, 2022.

“This is for the purpose of traditional rites in view of the recent security situation in Sagamu.

“While the palace of HRM, Akarigbo of Remoland, regrets the very short notice, the total cooperation of all people of Sagamu is urgently required.

“Kindly disseminate the information to orders.”

Our correspondent reports that rival cult groups have turned Sagamu into a war zone over with their incessant clashes and killings, with not less than 15 people killed in the community within three months.

The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, had visited the ancient town and his men arrested those they described as wanted and murderous suspected cult killers.

A group of concerned youths in Sagamu also protested over the spate of cult-related killings, saying the menace appeared to have defied all reconciliatory moves in the community.