No fewer than 500 members of various cults in Ijede , Ikorodu, Lagos State , told the state Acting Commissioner of Police , Edgal Imohimi , on Monday that they had renounced their memberships .
They also surrendered their weapons, which included Ak - 47 rifles, pump -action guns , cartridges , axes and cutlasses to the police .
Dressed in white shirts with an inscription ‘ Say no to cultism , ’ the members promised not to return to crime if the government provided jobs for them.
The event was held at the secretariat of the Ijede Local Council Development Area .
Some of the ex - cult members present at the event shared their cult - related escapades with PUNCH Metro , saying idleness was responsible for their involvement in violence .
A resident , Temitayo Ibarahim , aka T-Banny , who said he belonged to the Eiye Confraternity , stated that many lives had been lost to the activities of the gang .
Ibrahim , an artisan and a National Diploma holder, stated that he and others decided to quit cultism after counselling by some community leaders .
He said , “My advice to those who intend to join cults is to have a rethink . They can learn from us . Many persons have been killed . It was a miserable life. It was frustration of joblessness that led me to it. From our side, we lost about seven persons , including Saheed , Bigi , Rooney Boy . I pray to God to forgive us .
“ We will shun cultism once the government provides jobs for us . If we have work, it will be difficult for us to come together and cause trouble . I am into aluminum work. I also have an ND certificate from the Lagos State Polytechnic. ”
Another former cultist , Adeyemi Animashaun , aka K- Blue , said all the cult members in the community had resolved to let peace reign and promised not to go back into cultism .
He said , “We have stopped rivalry among ourselves and we are ready to work. I am a bricklayer . We are ready to assist the police to arrest anybody that foment trouble in the community. ”
A former member of KK cult , Azeez Gensi , said he renounced the group for the fear of being killed and “ for the safety of the community. ”
Adetoye Olanrewaju, an ex - Eiye Confraternity member , said he had wanted to renounce his membership for a long time, but was afraid that he could be arrested by the police .
He said , “Cult clashes in the community started with dispute over land and later became a supremacy battle . A community leader , Mr . Monsuru Giwa, approached me several times and advised me to quit cultism .
“ I didn ’ t heed his advice initially because I was scared of what would happen to me if I stopped being a cult member . When I saw that he had persuaded other cult members to renounce cultism , I also decided to surrender. ”
The Lagos CP, Imohimi , said the renunciation would reduce crime in the community and commended Giwa for coming up with the initiative .
He said the “ ex - cult members ” would be profiled by the police and rehabilitated so they could become useful to themselves and the society.
He said , “ History is being made at Ijede today . The community and the entire Lagos State are happy because we still have people who can sacrifice their time for the peace and safety of the community.
“ When I was told that over 500 youths in Ijede would renounce cultism and would submit themselves for profiling and rehabilitation , I was very happy . Ijede is setting the pace for other communities .
“ Ak - 47 rifles, pump - action guns , axes and cutlasses, among other weapons, have been surrendered to the police . On behalf of the Inspector- General of Police , the weapons will be taken to the Lagos State Police Command armoury. ”
Imohimi , who presented an award to Giwa, urged community leaders to partner the police in the fight against drug abuse .
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