Cultism, Kidnapping No Longer Tolerated Here in Lagos -- Gov. Ambode Speaks

Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State Governor

Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Oladapo Ambode, yesterday disclosed the menace of cultism and kidnapping currently sending jitters down the spine of many Lagos residents will no longer be tolerated in the state.

Ambode who said this while commissioning the newly constructed Omo Alade Alafia and Oloruntoyin/Jebina Streets in Bariga Local Council Development Area, charged community leaders in all the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Area to report known cultists, kidnappers and other criminals in their domains.

The governor emphasized that exposing the criminals remained the only effective means of curbing crimes in the state.

Ambode added that apart from aggressively embarking on infrastructural renewal across the state, his administration would also do everything possible to protect lives and property.

He said the state government was determined to make the state uncomfortable for the cultists, kidnappers and other criminals.

The governor, who was represented by a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Abiru and a community leader, Mr. Raphael Olusegun Ajayi, said that timely report of kidnapping, cultism, vandalism and hoodlums will help in dealing with criminal activities in the state.

The governor said: “I enjoin our royal fathers, traditional chiefs, Community Development Associations, market men and women and other stakeholders in our various communities to address the menace of cultism, kidnapping, miscreants, vandalism and hoodlums by providing timely information to our security agencies.”

Ambode who urged the community leaders to take ownership of the facilities, said that plans were afoot to embark on another round of 114 roads project in all the councils in the state.

According to the governor, it was illegal for anyone to sell on the road or engage in unauthorised breaking of roads, adding that it was also forbidden for anyone to convert the roads to automobile workshop, as well as refuse dump site.