Abdulfatah Ahmed, Kwara governor, says neither him nor Senate President Bukola Saraki have any link with the suspected cultists arrested in Ilorin, Kwara.
During plenary on Tuesday, Saraki had accused Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police (IGP), of plotting to implicate him in the activities of the suspects.
The senate president had said Ahmed called to inform him of the alleged plot of the IGP.
Speaking via Muyideen Akorede, his spokesman, Ahmed absolved himself, the senate president and their aides of any connection to the suspects.
According to the statement, the suspects were paraded on May 10 by Aminu Saleh, Kwara state commissioner of police, for alleged murder and membership of cult groups.
Ahmed described the alleged killings as the outcome of clashes between rival cult groups in the state.
He expressed concern over the growing attacks by suspected cultists, adding that the matter should not be politicised.
“Governor Ahmed described the alleged killings as the outcome of clashes between rival cults in the state as most victims have been identified by security agencies as members of cult groups,” the statement read.
“Neither him nor the Senate President or any of their aides have links with the suspected cultists or their alleged activities. He also denied any knowledge of or any intention to harm any individual as the political leadership in the state has never used violence as a political tool.
“Governor Ahmed emphasised that the growing problem of cultism and cult-related criminalities formed the basis of his charge to the new Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Saleh to focus on ending the menace on his resumption last month.
“According to him, the state government sees cultism as a serious security issue requiring urgent attention and has accordingly amended the State Cultism Law to prescribe stiffer penalties for convicts and those who aid and abet them, besides providing operational support to all security agencies in the state in their fight against all forms of criminalities, including cultism.
“Governor Ahmed warned that cultism is a serious security challenge which should neither be trivialised and turned into a political tool nor be treated with levity.
“He therefore urged well-meaning Nigerians to disregard any attempt to politicise the menace of cultism but focus instead on joining hands with the government and security agencies to bring the menace to an end in the interest of public safety while allowing the rule of law and justice to prevail in the matter.” (The Cable)
