From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Following renewed cult clashes which had claimed no fewer than five lives in Ogun State, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Abiodun Alamutu, has warned the newly matriculated students of Harvarde School of Science, Business and Management, Obada, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, to stay away from cultism.
Alamutu, who lamented that frequent cult clashes in the state is becoming a source of worries to the security agencies seeing the needless loss of lives to the menace, urged the new students to be of good moral behaviours and avoid activities capable of truncating their future.
Represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Fergus Manger, at the matriculation ceremony held at the premises of the College, at the weekend, the CP lamented that the teeming youth who are said to be the next generation of leaders are rather killing themselves, ruining their destiny, saying that the situation really calls for concerns.
Addressing the students further, Alamutu bemoaned the rising cult clashes and reprisal attacks in the state, urging them to rather focus on their studies and shun any form of temptation to join this evil group.
He said: “It is unfortunate the rate of cult killings in the state and those involved are the youths, those of you who are expected to be the next generation of leaders.
“Last week, about four of them died in Abeokuta and last night (Friday) two others were shot in Ijebu Ode. You have to stay away from joining confraternities because it is not a group that you can join and want to leave, no, they won’t allow you, rather they will come after you because they know that you have their secret.
“You are here to study and this you must do to your utmost best so that you can grow up and be the very best in the society which is the reason why your parents send you to this school”.
Speaking during the matriculation, the Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Prof Onyemachi Ogbulu, said that the institution is an affiliate of the university.
The VC who was represented by Prof John Ogbonna, Director, Institute for Continuing Education of the university, warned the students to either be ready to conform with the rules of the school or be shown the way out.
Prof Ogbulu said “this matriculation marks your formal admission into university as a bonafide students. You must therefore face your studies, stay away from every form of distraction because the university won’t waste time to show you the exit if you will not conform to the university’s standards”.
The President of the College, Dr Adebayo Oluwatosin, also urged the the matriculating students for 2023/2024 academic session to brace up for the academic challenge ahead as the school won’t condone any act of lawlessness or unseriousness.