The Ogun State House of Assembly has expressed concern over the recent killings by some cultists in some parts of the state.
PulseNets reports that no fewer than 15 persons were killed in one week in Abeokuta and Sagamu when members of Eiye and Aiye cult groups clashed.
As a result, the House of Assembly Wednesday passed a resolution, urging Governor Dapo Abiodun to, as a matter of urgency, constitute a special task force for anti-cultism and anti-land grabbing across the three senatorial districts.
This followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Sheriff Yusuf, seconded by the member representing Ijebu North 1, Sylvester Abiodun and supported by the whole house.
At a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, the lawmakers condemned the activities of cultists and land grabbers in the state.
PulseNets reports that the member representing Abeokuta South 2 State Constituency, Ademuyiwa Adeyemi, informed the house of cases of cult clashes in some parts of the state, which resulted in killings in Abeokuta and Sagamu.
Adeyemi noted the apprehension caused by the incident among residents affected, who he said had to hurriedly close their business premises and shops.
Also, a member representing Ifo 2, Ganiyu Oyedeji, presented a case of illegal enforcement of court judgment on land matters affecting over 50 communities as aided by some security personnel including policemen and soldiers at Olorunsogo and Sunren communities in Ifo.
This, Ayodeji, said was against the provision of the existing Anti-Land grabbing Law in the State.
The lawmakers had sought the immediate intervention of the state government to protect and curb cultism, land grabbing and kidnapping among other dastardly acts across the state.
Responding, Speaker Oluomo said it was high time all stakeholders concerned with the prosecution of criminals evoked relevant sections of the law, thereby charging those arrested in connection with cult clashes and land grabbing matters accordingly.
He called on the higher echelons of the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Army to call their men and operatives to order by ensuring compliance with the ‘Sheriff and Civil process law’ and avoid being used to aid unlawful enforcement of land judgments obtained from any courts of law.
According to Oluomo while quoting sections 6(2), and 14 (2) of the Law, “Any person who enforces or uses agents for the enforcement of any judgment in respect of a landed property except as provided under the Sheriff and Civil Process Law is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of Five Million Naira or imprisonment of ten years or both such fine and imprisonment.
“The Power to enforce this part of the Law may be vested in the Joint Task Force, to be constituted by the Governor, comprising of the representatives of the Bureau of Lands and Survey, Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning and any other relevant Law Enforcement Arm of Government.
“Any security or Law enforcement personnel used to unlawfully violate the provision of this Law shall on conviction be liable to two years imprisonment or fine of two hundred and fifty thousand naira or both,” Oluomo said.
