Stakeholders in Owo, headquarters of the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, at the weekend disclosed that the recent violent cult clashes in the ancient town were being aided by politicians patronising gangsterism for political gains.

The stakeholders, who converged on the community during a security summit organised by the Owo Youths Forum, stressed that idle youths who were usually armed by politicians during elections were subsequently abandoned after electioneering.

Owo had, in the past weeks, been embroiled in deadly cult clashes, with over five persons killed and over 30 suspected cultists arrested.

While speaking during the summit designed to identify the proximate and root causes of the persistent killings and unrest plaguing the community, Comrade Damilare Aina, a member of the forum, stated that continuous engagement of all stakeholders would go a long way in educating the youths and ensuring sustained peace in Owo.

On his part, Odunayo Folahanmi, who commended the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, and other traditional rulers for taking a stance against the menace, said: “It is evident that politicians are the ones engaging the cultists. We invited them as well as others, but you could even see for yourselves that the political leaders are not here except the deputy governor, who is represented by the chief of staff.

“We have to start getting it right from our political class, and we have to start making sure that things are done right. We even have some private information from the police that whenever these people are arrested, political leaders will come and rescue them.”

The police area commander in Owo, Adenike Peter, who urged politicians to stop interfering in the arrest of cultists, said, “Many a time, when we arrest these miscreants, politicians will start calling, saying, ‘He is my brother; we should release them.’ So, this is one of the major problems we have.”

The deputy governor of the state, Olayide Adelami, who frowned at the recent developments in Owo, disclosed that the state government is committed to tackling the security challenges confronting the community.

Adelami, who was represented by his chief of staff, Kola Falohun, stated that, “We now know where we are going. Solutions have been suggested. We are believing that by the time we do the main stakeholders’ meeting that will be organized by the Office of the Deputy Governor soon, we will make a headway.

“These boys are actually not bad; only we are not engaging them. They are our brothers and sisters. We will engage them and know if there are grievances and empower them because lack of a job is a major flashpoint.”