Ogun police arrests 53 student cultists on way to initiation

About 53 suspected cultists from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNNAB, and other higher institutions in Ogun State were accosted by the state police command on their way to a night-time initiation ceremony.

The students were said to have taken off from the Obantoko area, few kilometers from FUNAAB, in a convoy headed for the undisclosed venue. They were, however, ambushed by the police at about 11:30 p.m.at Lafenwa Roundabout in Abeokuta.

According to sources, the police acted on a tip-off from the state branch of the National Association of Seadogs, NAS, popularly called Pyrates’ Confraternity.

On sighting the police, the students were said to have fled leaving their vehicles, with food and drinks meant for the ceremony, behind.

The Ogun State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, when contacted, confirmed the incident. He used the opportunity to warn student cultists in the state to desist from their nefarious act, adding that the command would not tolerate their activities in any part of the state.

“They are not a social club. The police will not allow any anti-social group or organization to operate in the state. If anybody is caught, he would be made to face the full wrath of the law,” Mr. Adejobi said.

The president of the Pyrates Confraternity in Abeokuta, Yemi Akintunde, also warned students not to allow themselves be deceived into joining any cult. He explained that the Pyrates’ Confraternity, which he described as a humanitarian and charitable organization, has since the 1980s ceased to exist on the campuses of higher institutions across the country.

“Anyone interested in joining NAS must have graduated from school and is also required to have participated in and have the certificate of the National Youth Service Corps. The Pyrates’ Confraternity does not exist on the campus of any higher institution in Nigeria,” he said