Lasting peace and security of lives and properties which have been under threats from series of cult clashes and Badoo attacks may have finally return to Ikorodu division.
This indication is premised upon the efforts of Ikorodu monarchs and security agencies to find a lasting solution to the security challenges confronting the entire Ikorodu division and also to change the negative image being created about the division in the media. The paramount ruler of Ikorodu division, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi led the division’s community stakeholders to grant amnesty to hundreds of repentant cult members who voluntarily renounced their membership of secret cult groups at a security summit tagged, Ikorodu 4 Peace.
According to Lanre Labinjo, deputy leader, Onyabo Vigilante group, the amnesty offer comes after weeks of dialogue, facilitated by the Ikorodu based local vigilante group, Onyabo, between the different confraternities, various security agencies, royal fathers and community leaders in the division.
The amnesty programme hosted by Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu on Thursday, June 15th, 2017 was attended by over five hundred members of various cult groups namely, Eiye confraternity, Bucaneers and Aye Confraternity respectively.
The Ikorodu 4 Peace programme is the first grassroots amnesty programme to be launched by any community in Lagos state. Delivering the welcome address, former Commissioner for Information, Lagos State, Com. Ayodele Elesho, said the division decided to take the lead in Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s Amnesty Initiative in the state, which was announced by the Governor during his visit to Ikorodu at last year’s ‘One Lagos Music Fiesta’.
Com. Elesho, while speaking, said the need to save the division’s future today was what gave birth to the amnesty programme in Ikorodu. The former labour leader implored the repentant cult members to work with the community and security operatives as other rehabilitation programmes will be unfolded. He also charged them to surrender their weapons and ammunitions.
The brain behind the amnesty initiative and deputy Head of Onyabo Vigilante Group, Lanre Labinjo, said his organisation has put modalities in place to take the Ikorodu 4 Peace campaign to more than ten communities across the division. He however called for support from politicians and the state Government to gainfully engage the repentant cultists in order to make then become productive members of the society.
The host of the event and paramount ruler of Ikorodu Division, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi; the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, in his address appealed to the former confraternity members to leave the dirty past behind and become agents of peace and progress of the division. The monarch, who could not contain his joy, expressed optimism that the activities of the deadly badoo gang would soon become a thing of the past, same way cult gang war has now become history in Ikorodu.
Representatives of the fraternities; Afeez Sholebo, Seyi Ajasa and Saheed Egbodoku, who spoke on behalf of their groups promised that a new dawn of peace has been heralded in the division, and are ready to fully embrace all rehabilitation programmes to re-integrate them back into the community.
