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Students in Ogun State have appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun and all the security agencies to urgently tackle the incessant cult killings in the state before they spread to tertiary institutions of learning.
The students made the call at a joint congress of the Senate of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun Joint Campus Committee (JCC) and the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS), held at the Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu Ijebu.
ADULAWONEWS recall that cult clashes in Ogun have claimed about 15 lives in less than two weeks in Abeokuta and Sagamu.
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The killings attracted the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari, who ordered security agencies to suppress the cultists without further delay.
The Ogun State police command announced yesterday that it had set up a special operation squad to tackle cultists headlong, even as Gov Dapo Abiodun ordered the relocation of security operations to Sagamu.
Our correspondent observed that the recent cult clashes occurred away from campuses, with no evidence that victims of the killings are students of any higher learning institution.
But, the students are expressing worry about the menace, saying that it could spread to campuses if nothing is done urgently to nip it in the bud.
They urged the state police command, the Department of State Security (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies to stop the killings right away, warning that it could degenerate into full-blown crisis that may cripple tertiary education in the state.
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The students also called on the state government and the various security agencies, to engage Community Development Associations (CDAs), and local vigilante groups to curb the cult clash and ensure the students of tertiary institutions in the state.
Reading the resolutions of the congress, the NANS chairman, Comrade Kehinde Damilola Simeon said, “We all know Ogun State is a volatile state that is prone to cult clashes because of the high number of tertiary institutions in the state. But we are urging the government and all the security agencies to immediately weigh in on the recently renewed cult battle.
“We want the security agencies to immediately swing into action and arrest the situation before it spreads to the campuses of our tertiary institutions. They must prevent this issue from escalating.
“We also call on those involved in this dastardly act to stop in the interest of peace.
“We are also using this medium to appeal to the state government to help rehabilitate roads leading to our tertiary institutions and the various health care centres in the state.”
Responding to the demands of the students, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Femi Ogunbanwo, said “I want to assure them that work will soon commence on these roads, especially the Aala – Omu road. Contractors are already moving to the site.
“On insecurity, it is a national problem and I believe the President and all our governors are concerned as we are also concerned about the situation.”