Cultism: OAU students’ committee petition police

The Students’ Union Action Committee of Obafemi Awolowo University has petitioned the Nigeria Police on the release of suspected cultists, who are students of the university, without any public disclosure.

In the petition dated 14th of August and signed by the chairman of the committee, Gbenga Oloniniran, it was stated that the Police have to do everything needed to arrest the emerging cultist activities on the campus.

It should be recalled that CAMPUS REPORTER reported how twelve suspected cultists were arrested three weeks ago and how they were released by the State Criminal Investigation Department, C.I.D, Osogbo.

John Udeh, a part 2 student of social studies education; Mr Tobi Oladoye, 400 level student of English Department; Ridwan Oluwatobi, a part 2 student and a part 4 student of Music Department identified as ‘Jaaga’, were part of those arrested.

“The cultists were later released without prosecution and the university management has not put out any public statement on why they were released without prosecution nor stated their stance on the issue,” read the petition.

The Action Committee mentioned in the petition that the police have to urgently intervene in the security situation of the university in order to avoid a repetition of the “1999 dreadfulness.”

It further read: “It is worthy to note that the release of the suspected campus cultists without due prosecution is a direct repetition of history, as witnessed in the 1999 experience when the university management and the Nigeria police force refused to take necessary steps when campus cultists were apprehended and handed over to the said authorities. It was after the release and return of these cultists to campus that they became more violent and emboldened in perpetrating their evil acts, which actually culminated to the gruesome murder of five students on July 10, 1999.”

“At this point, we consider it germane and legal that the Nigerian police force take emergent intervention on the porous security situation of the Obafemi Awolowo University with proper probe and prosecution of the emerging cult activities on campus, as this situation currently threatens the security of lives and property of students and other members of the university community. This is to ensure the avoidance of dreadful history repeating itself in another form.”

On Tuesday, the spokesperson of the university, Abiodun Olanrewaju, promised to make a public release on the issue after getting adequate feedback from the security unit of the school.

However, it should be noted that this is not the first time the Students’ Union of the institution will be reporting to the police about cultism activities on the campus. Last year, the union reported to the police after the murder of Femi Omogboriowo at the New Buka.