By Mumini AbdulKareem
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Security Intelligence, Dr AbdulSalam Suleiman on Sunday in Ilorin revealed that over 42 suspected cultists have so far been arrested in relation to the recent cultists’ activities in the state.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Ilorin Emirates Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) over rising security threats in Ilorin, the governor’s aide said the neighbourhood must involve in community policing and communal efforts to safeguard the environment.
According to him, the state government is committed to finding solutions to the problem adding that no one will be spared if found culpable.
According to him, “The figure of those arrested so far is over 42 for various cultists’ related activities and despite the pressure from some quarters, none of them have been released.
“Kidnapers, cultists and armed robbers are not alien but they live among us. We should be involved in community policing and make findings before subletting our houses to a stranger. We must know whoever is living in our community as house owners and tenants,” he added.
Also, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad said steps were being taken to reverse the trend adding that recent findings had shown that Kwara has the highest number of hotels in the country with Adewole Housing Estate, Ilorin topping the list with over 100 lodging houses.
He attributed the upsurge in hotels to the indiscriminate conversion of residential houses.
Represented by Hon. Abdulrafiu Abdulrahman, a member representing Ilorin North West, Ahmad disclosed that an executive bill meant to curb the proliferation of hotels in the state had scaled second reading in the Assembly.
He said the legislative framework when eventually passed, would introduce stringent conditions into the land use law, which would in turn; make it difficult for anyone to convert residential building to a hotel or guest house.
Ahmad said the fallout of the trend include nude parties, indecent dressing, cultism, adding that some of the hotels serve as abode for ‘criminals’ in the state.
Speaking, the state Chief Judge, Justice Sulaiman Durosinlohun Kawu, expressed displeasure that Ilorin did not prepare for challenges associated with urbanisation and expansion, which could not be isolated from the wave of crime in the city.
As a way out, the jurist urged the IEDPU to have a roll call of retired security officials from Ilorin and invite them to a meeting with a view to deliberating on how best to arrest the alarming situation.
In his remarks, the IEDPU President, Alhaji Abdulhamid Adi, warned that the cultural values of Ilorin are being gradually eroded with influence of alien practices.
He noted that the city is rapidly expanding with influx of strangers but stressed the need to rise to the challenges in the interest of peace and harmony the city is revered.
He added that residents of Ilorin and its environs should report any strange development to appropriate security agencies for swift action.
The event was attended by retired Grand Kadis in the state including Justice Mutalib Ahmad Ambali, Justice Abdulkadir Imam-Fulani, Justice Solihu Olohuntoyin Muhammad and a member of the state House of Assembly, Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Taiwo (Owode/Onire Constituency of Asa Local Government Area).
