Lagos Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has said parents of convicted cultists will be faced with punitive measures based on the state’s anti-cultism law.

Mr Hamzat made this statement during the Children’s day celebration held on Thursday at the Police College, Ikeja.

The deputy governor also explained that parents must be vigilant by paying attention to the moral upbringing of their children. He mentioned that the anti-cultism law was signed to fight cultism in Lagos.

“The new law against cultism prescribes punitive measures for parents of young people convicted of cultism. Parents should be vigilant and monitor their children,” Mr Hamzat said.

“We owe them a duty to ensure that their dreams and aspirations are realised through continuous training, guidance and mentoring.”

The anti-cultism law (Prohibition of Unlawful Societies and Cultism law 2021) states that parents or guardians who acknowledged their children’s involvement as a member of an unlawful society or cult will be charged with 2 years imprisonment or a cash fine. 

Section 16 of the law states that “any person, parents or guardians that is aware of a person’s or ward’s involvement in an unlawful society or cultism and who fails to report to the police, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to two (2) years imprisonment, or fine of five hundred thousand naira (₦500,000.00).”

Convicted cultists will face 21 years imprisonment under the provision of the law.