The Lagos State House of Assembly has called in Jimoh Moshood, the state commissioner of police, and three additional commissioners in response to the escalating gang and cult violence in Mushin and other areas of the state.
The resolution was approved in plenary on Monday after Olayinka Kazeem, who represents Mushin Constituency II, presented a motion of urgent public significance. In it, she bemoaned the growing cult-related instability in the region.
“Heartbreaking to both the people and the families of these children,” Kazeem said, adding that lives had been lost and whole villages had been plunged into turmoil and terror.
“My constituency has seen a troubling increase in youth unrest and cult-related violence,” he stated.
“I implore this Assembly to direct security forces to rigorously enforce drug control and step up their crackdown on cultism.”
To stop young people from becoming even more violent, he also urged immediate youth reorientation and intervention programs.
In response to the motion, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa ordered commissioners Bolaji Robert for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ope George for Budget and Economic Planning, Tolani Ali-Balogun for Education, and Bolaji Robert for Police to appear before the House.
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Many of these criminals are currently living under bridges, and the local governments need to be held accountable for their actions.
Obasa stated that “we must also intensify efforts to engage the youths meaningfully.”
He emphasized the need for both security intervention and social engagement tactics in order to combat youth cultism.
In support of the resolution, Mushin I’s representative, Nureni Akinsanya, said that violent gangs operating fearlessly had taken over a number of Mushin streets.
Bonu Solomon (Badagry I) warned that ignoring the problem would simply give the criminals more confidence and asked for heavier punishments for anyone found guilty of cult-related offenses.
“The legal response needs to be reinforced. There should be harsher penalties for cultism, Solomon stated.
Femi Saheed (Kosofe II) claimed that sachet alcohol usage exacerbates anger in young people and impairs judgment, which is why he linked it to the rise in violence. In an effort to address the underlying roots of the issue, he advocated for community-based stakeholder gatherings.
“Until we address the causes, particularly substance and alcohol misuse, we will continue to fight a cycle,” he said.
Politicians are frequently under pressure from constituents to step in and obtain bail for cult members who have been detained, Rasheed Shabi (Lagos Mainland II) stated.
Our protection of them must end. “Let them bear the full repercussions of their behavior,” Shabi said.
