Kwara Police blows hot as suspected cultists mark anniversary Sunday

Suspected members of different cult groups in Kwara State have reportedly concluded plans to celebrate annual festival of cultism in the state capital on Sunday, July 7, 2019.

Investigations revealed that previous celebrations of 7/7 in notable areas of the state capital were trailed by violence and criminal activities among members of cult groups.

Some of the notable areas in the state capital where the cult activities had been recorded in the past include Ibrahim Taiwo road, Kulende, Sabo Oke, Agaka, Eruda, Agbo Oba, Stadium Road, Irewolede I and II and Oyun areas, among other communities in the state capital.

It was gathered that the annual 7/7 celebration had been used to initiate new members or launch vengeance against perceived opponents in the state.

The violent cult activities, which are usually fomented by students of both secondary and higher institutions in the state, also involved, majorly, artisans like vulcanizers, bricklayers, okada riders, tricycle operators, among others.

However, following intelligence reports, the state police command said that it had put in place adequate security measures throughout the state to check the development, describing it as unacceptable.

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The state police commissioner, Kayode Egbetokun, in a statement on Friday, called on parents/guardians to monitor activities of their children/wards, advising students to shun any suspicious gathering of young men and women in their environments and report every suspicious movement and activity of criminal elements to the Police.

The statement read: “Credible intelligence available to the Command indicates that some criminal elements with different identities/nomenclatures have concluded plans to disrupt the peace and tranquillity currently existing in Kwara State, on 7/7/2019, in the guise of marking the anniversary of cultism in the state.

“The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State, Ag Cp Kayode Egbetokun finds this development unacceptable and has put in place adequate security measures throughout the State.

“He is also using this medium to call parents/guidance to monitor the activities of their children/wards.

“Students generally, are advised to shun any suspicious gathering of young men and women in their environments and report any suspicious movements and activities of criminal elements to the Police.”