Conflict in Sagamu: Abiodun says that the death penalty for cultists will be enacted.

Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun State, has declared that his administration will soon pass legislation that will sentence anyone found participating in cult activities in the state to death.

This was announced by Governor Abiodun on Tuesday at a meeting with Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the Paramount Ruler of Remoland, and his chiefs at the Akarigbo Palace in Sagamu.

He expressed horror at the willful destruction of lives and the tranquility in Sagamu and its surroundings, while also issuing a warning that the government would not stand by and let dishonest people start disturbances anywhere in the State.

I wish to express my sympathy to the law-abiding and upright residents of Sagamu, as well as to our respected supreme ruler, the kabiyesis, and all those who have lost loved ones.

"We will do all in our power to hold anyone accountable—whether they are directly, indirectly, or even remotely—for these events. I have addressed with the Attorney General the possibility that these horrible murders occasionally occur because of our attitude.

"It is well within my authority as the governor of this State to impose the death penalty on individuals, and we will make sure that we do so because, perhaps, when people recognize and comprehend the repercussions of their actions, they will start to have a change of heart.

"I have requested that the Chief of Police, the Director of the State Service (DSS), the Civil Defence Commander, the Commander of our AMOTEKUN, and the whole security architecture relocate to Sagamu for this purpose.

"Since these folks are not spirits, we shall rely on our kabiyesis for all intelligence support because they are the closest to the grassroots. They occupy our homes as renters and live with us.

"The last time I was here, I promised that we would find out where everyone lived who was involved to either kidnapping or cultism and demolish their home. Sadly, it has been very challenging for me to put it into practice because they rent an apartment from unsuspecting landlords who don't know what they're doing and, after we apprehend them and are about to demolish the house, those landlords come and beg us that they were unaware the suspects were involved in that business.

We shall no longer refer to these people as cultists or by any other label, I am now declaring. We are declaring them to be murderers, and we will punish them appropriately, he threatened.

The governor declared that going forward, he would not give in to any sentiment from any source because the hoodlums' actions could thwart government efforts to further develop the state.

"Our state and its citizens are being sabotaged economically. Nobody should contact me, my SSG, or the police commissioner. I'm telling parents that we won't spare anyone; we'll take serious action against anyone discovered doing it.

He declared that no one would be permitted to prevent the state from moving forward since his government was devoted to its growth and prosperity.

Oba Babatunde Ajayi, Akarigbo of Remoland, lamented the town's constant loss of life and property, claiming that if individuals keep wreaking havoc through criminal activity, the community will not experience the necessary development.

He asked for military and police formations that could move about the area to maintain law and order as needed.

Eight people were killed, while nine suspects who were detained in connection with the incident are currently being investigated, according to retired Commissioner for Police Awolowo Ajogun and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Assistant Inspector General of Police Olusola Subair (rtd), who both traced the origin of the conflict to a dispute over the sharing of proceeds from a land transaction.