Gov says police shouldn't link him or senate president to cultism

Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has denied as false and misleading, stories linking him and Senate President, Bukola Saraki to the suspected cultists arrested in Ilorin, the state capital.

The cultists have been transferred by the Nigeria Police to Abuja in spite of protests by the Kwara State government.

On Wednesday, May 16, 2018, Saraki disclosed on the floor of the national assembly that there was a grand plan by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris to link him to the cultists who were arrested in Kwara and transferred to Abuja.

The senate thereafter set up an eight-man delegation to meet President Muhammadu Buhari over the matter.

Kwara Gov says he shouldn't be implicated

In statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, Governor Ahmed says neither him nor the Senate President or any of their aides have links with the suspected cultists or their alleged activities.

Ahmed also denied any knowledge of or any intention to harm any individual "as the political leadership in the State has never used violence as a political tool".

The statement referred the general public to the parade of the suspects by the State commissioner of police, Mr. Aminu Pai Saleh on Thursday, May 10, 2018 in Ilorin.

The police had announced thatthe suspects were arrested for alleged murder and membership of cult groups.

No mention was made of any confessional statement linking the activities of the cultists to any sponsors.

Governor Ahmed described the alleged killings in Kwara "as the outcome of clashes between rival cults in the State as most victims have been identified by security agencies as members of cult groups".

'Cultism is a serious security challenge'

According to the rest of the statement; "Governor Ahmed emphasised that the growing problem of cultism and cult-related criminalities formed the basis of his charge to the new Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Saleh to focus on ending the menace on his resumption last month.

"The state government sees cultism as a serious security issue requiring urgent attention and has accordingly amended the State Cultism Law to prescribe stiffer penalties for convicts and those who aid and abet them, besides providing operational support to all security agencies in the state in their fight against all forms of criminalities, including cultism.

"Governor Ahmed warns that cultism is a serious security challenge which should neither be trivialised and turned into a political tool nor be treated with levity.

"He therefore urged well-meaning Nigerians to disregard any attempt to politicise the menace of cultism but focus instead on joining hands with the government and security agencies to bring the menace to an end in the interest of public safety while allowing the rule of law and justice to prevail in the matter".

IGP Idris has thrice shunned senate invitations to appear before lawmakers over the growing insecurity and killings in the country.