January 27, 2025 11:55:11 PM

The Osun State Police Command has warned students to desist from cult activities and not to indulge social vices that leads to the destruction of the Country and their future.

The Command made this known during 4th summit of the Osun State Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices, POCACOV, under the Osun State Police Command on Thursday at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Representing the Commissioner of Police, CP Kehinde Longe, Alabi Abiodun, The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ife Area Command said “We have a section in Nigerian Police that is taking care of cultism, we have anti cultism section, that deals with the affairs of cultism and they have made a lot of arrests, they are also involved in rehabilitation of drug addicts, many cultists risk health problems because of harmful they take”.

“It is visible to the blind, audible to the deaf and palpable to the leper that involvement in cult activities and social vices has done more havocs to the collective will and psyche of our youths with its attendant effect on socio economic and moral degradation in our society”.

He advised that Parents, teachers and other adults should be vigilant and watchful. Similarly, Religion and moral instructions should be given to students of all levels of education and should be included in the school curriculum.

He reiterated that strict and tough measures against cult activities and social vices. And Censorship of the internet and social media should be used to campaign to the youths about the dangers of cultism.

He listed the social vices and punishment as these: Defilement – Life Imprisonment.
Assault-1 years Imprisonment;Stealing-3 years;Terrorism- 10 years;Forgery-3 years;Impersonation – 3 years;Burglary 14 years;Homosexuality – 14 years;sexual abuse-Life Imprisonment;Internet Fraud – 7 years;Affray 1 year; Riot 1 year;Treason – Life Imprisonment; Murder – death sentence;Prostitution – 1 year;Receiving Stolen Property – 14 years;Armed Robbery and punishment is death sentence;Kidnapping 10 years imprisonment as it may be revised by many state government edicts as life imprisonment; Examination Malpractice – SSCE punishment – 5yrs in jail or #200,000 00k fine (Section 19.1 of WAEC Act) such candidate shall not take or be allowed to continue the exams In addition, he shall be prohibited from taking any exams held or conducted by or on behalf of the council for period of Two (2) years; Rape Life Imprisonment.

However, he enjoined youths to toll the path of greatness through hard work desire to renounce their for membership from cult groups, respect for the rules and regulations and constituted authorities.

“We want to catch them when they are young, that’s why we invited the secondary schools students, so we sensitise them about the dangers of cultism and the punishments for all the social vices, so they will know that criminals will be punished according to the laws”, he averred.

Professor Olusola Akinboola, Who addressed the students on behalf of Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University Ede, implored the students not to get involved in cult activities, that social vices that are not good for the present and for the future.

She therefore advised the Government, the Parents, Educational Institutions, NGOS, Communities, Religious Institutions, Leaders to join hands to teach youths right from wrong through their own examples, and even through counselling, mentoring, so the youths won’t go into cultism.

Babatunde Afolabi, Chairman Medical Advisory ,representing Professor Peter Babatunde, the CMD of Uniosun Teaching Hospital, applauded the Police Command for the awareness programme, stating that with the programme, youths will know the dangers of cultism, consequences of drug abuse.

“The lives of many youths have been destroyed today because of the bad gangs and activities they are involved in and also the drugs they use. All these drugs have negative effect and parents have got a lot to do about parenting, having to be very close to their children , identify who they are, you don’t have to be too hard nor too soft , to ensure that you bring them and nurture them in the way of the Lord”
“Pay regular visits to their schools because some may pretend to you that they are not involved in cult activities, ensure to give them close monitoring

“And those that have joined the group, there is still hope, ways of retrieving their steps from this cult groups and have good life by way of rehabilitation”, he concluded.

Students also spoke on the impact on the programme, and stated that the programme will change the notion of those that are involved or want to join the gang.

The summit was attended by hundreds of students, Teachers, Parents, Youths , and other stakeholders involved in bringing out the best of the students and youths.


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