VIOLENT cultism has become rife in Lagos. The social malaise comes from the breakdown of the family value system, the poor enforcement of law, complicity of the political class, and a buoyant economy of crime in the state. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu should intervene to stop the untrammelled dominance of cultists and street gangs in the state.
In this, Mustapha, 16, was killed by a suspected secret cult member during a peace walk campaign against cultism in Oyingbo, Ebute-Meta, in April.
Given the rising cult-related violence in the community, some youths embarked on a campaign to create awareness against the menace. Unfortunately, the campaign degenerated into an argument that made a suspected cultist shoot indiscriminately, leading to chaos and the death of Mustapha. The head of the campaign suffered an injury.
Sanwo-Olu and Omolola Essien, the chairman of the Lagos Mainland LGA, must stop feigning helplessness. They should deploy local intelligence gathering, involve stakeholders in identifying the culprit, and bring him to justice.
This will serve as a deterrent to other criminals. They should lead the campaign against the menace.
Ebute-Meta is not the only area plagued by cultism and crime. It has become a dilemma in Mile II, Surulere, Agege, Lagos Island, Cele, Ikorodu, and other Lagos communities. The state is a hotspot for cultism, drugs, armed robbery, carjacking, and kidnapping.
On April 22, gunmen shot dead an undergraduate of the Yaba College of Technology after the day’s examinations in a cult-related violence. The police arrested seven suspects. They must not go free.
Worse, Nigerians are exporting cultism abroad. On April 12, an Australian court jailed a Nigerian, Ugochukwu Anyakorah, for four years. He was convicted of being a member of the Buccaneers and a romance scammer. This is the best way to treat the menace.
Therefore, law enforcement agencies should collaborate to chart actionable and sustainable strategies to sabotage and dismantle criminal activities in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu should equip the Neighbourhood Watch and the Amotekun to ensure intelligence gathering, sustainable monitoring, and patrolling to dismantle criminal hideouts in the inner cities.
A state grappling with louts (agberos), it is faced with the double jeopardy of the rise of gangsters. Sanwo-Olu should invigorate the Unlawful Societies and Cultism in the Lagos State Law 2021. The law, which prescribes a 21-year term for cultists and 15 years for their sponsors, also punishes parents who are aware of their ward’s involvement in cultism.
Elsewhere, Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State recently signed the Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Law 2025 to implement stricter penalties against the menace in the state.
Collaborating with the governor, the assembly repealed the Edo State Secret Cult Prohibition Law 2018, while the new law was approved. Although the law is like Lagos’, it includes the confiscation and demolition of properties associated with cultists and their sponsors.
Sanwo-Olu should follow suit by reviewing the 2021 law, working with the parliament to implement stricter penalties for cultists and their sponsors.
Powerful politicians and sponsors who are vicariously linked to cultists and cult groups should not be spared.
At the root of cultism is high unemployment, underemployment, and idleness among young people in the state. This highlights a vacuum in good governance and meaningful employment.
Therefore, Sanwo-Olu should improve the economy.
He should reinvigorate sports as a vehicle for youth engagement. The state must improve its sports facilities, organise community sports activities, and provide robust security in the sports centres to prevent delinquency. Sports should be used to raise celebrated role models.
The state should involve traditional and religious leaders, politicians and influencers, teachers and lecturers, musicians, and resident association leaders to enlighten young people against the dangers of cultism.
The police should circulate the list of cult groups and their leadership.
