27th February, 2022
By Adejoke Adeleye
Olakunle Oluomo, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly has condemned the rise in social vices especially ritual killings, cultism and drug abuse amongst others.
He charged all stakeholders to step up inter-religious campaigns towards curbing the menace in society.
The speaker stated this while addressing members of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights and Human Rights and Grassroots Development Society, led by its convener, Comrade Yinka Folarin during a sensitization/advocacy visit to the State Assembly, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Oluomo advised the group to involve all stakeholders in line with recent happenings especially inter-religious organisations including the traditionalists.
Furthermore, he called for the restoration of sanity in society as a collective responsibility; hence all agents of socialization including traditional worshipers must be urgently engaged as criminal elements were now abusing the age-long traditions.
He urged the security agents to avoid the illegal reduction of charges against crime suspects while preparing their charges, saying that such acts always hindered effective justice dispensation leading to an upsurge in criminal activities as the culprits would be left with lesser punishment.
Therefore, he urged all security operatives to step up plans towards improving their investigative activities to arrest and ensure immediate prosecution of suspects.
According to him, there is a need to follow the letter, the provisions of the all-encompassing State Land Grabbing/ Anti- kidnapping Law, 2016 to reduce crimes and criminality in the State.
Oluomo assured that the Ninth Assembly under his leadership would further look inward to amend necessary sections of the law and other relevant legislation to reflect the emerging realities in society.
Earlier, Comrade Folarin stated that there had been cases of kidnapping, ritual killings, drug abuse, cultism, internet fraud and other social vices even in schools and within the State.
Folatin explained that the visit was to engage necessary arms of government and other stakeholders towards checkmating crimes and criminalities in the State.