The Oyo State Government has revealed that it is set to engage in talks with all area boys and cult groups in the State, to foster peace.
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun said this in Ibadan on Thursday, after a closed-door meeting with representatives of the militant groups, including Agbekoya, Oodua People’s Congress and Vigilante Group of Nigeria.
Olatunbosun said the State government, in collaboration with all the militant groups, is determined to proffer peaceful solutions to the unrest between area boys and cult groups, saying the time to end the bloodshed in the State is now.
Dr Olatunbosun said further that the meeting aimed at solving the problem from the root.
According to him, the State Government will work closely with security agencies and leaders of the militant groups, to meet with the cult sects and mediate between warring parties.
He said “the State Executive Council is aware of the activities of cultists and cult groups in the State. We hope to hold a meeting with them”.
“Oyo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde is determined to put a stop to this clash among cult groups and area boys.
To this end, we in collaboration with all the Militant groups in the State, are taking the message of peace to the den of these cultists”, he said.
“We will try to convince them to be disarmed and return to their homes peacefully. Afterwards, there will be a clampdown on activities of area boys and cult groups who fail to cooperate with us”, he said.
Olatunbosun who underscored that through the help of some of the militant groups, the State Government would
Dr Olatubosun, therefore, appealed to the area boys and rival cult groups to sheath their swords and pursue peace, stressing that after the peace talks, there will be a clampdown on cultists and cult activities in the state.
He also appealed to parents and guardians to caution their children and wards against cultism.
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Pr/ Kayode Banjo
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