Edo State Govt cracks down on cultism, arrests 11 suspects

The Edo State Special Task Force on Anti-Cultism has arrested 11 suspected members of different cult groups across the state.

The state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, disclosed this at a press briefing on Thursday, August 15, 2024. 

While calling on cult members to renounce their membership, he warned that no political, religious, ethnic, or social standing will protect anyone involved in cult activities.

“The Edo State Special Task Force on Anti-Cultism has issued a strong warning that there will be no hiding place for cultists in Edo State,” he said. 

“The taskforce headed by the Department of State Services was created by the Governor Obaseki-led state government in response to increasing cult killings which had claimed many youthful lives across the state. The directive was clear, crush cultism with an iron fist.”

He noted that since the inauguration of the task force, comprising eight security outfits and four ministries, it has demonstrated commitment to rid the state of cultism.

According to him, there have been efforts focused on education and persuasion as well as engaging with communities and stakeholders to dissuade the youths in particular from joining cults. 

He noted that since the inauguration of the task force, it has demonstrated commitment to rid the state of cultism.

According to him, there have been efforts focused on education and persuasion as well as engaging with communities and stakeholders to dissuade the youths in particular from joining cults.

He added that beyond persuasion, the task force has made several arrests of key cult members across the board through painstaking intelligence procurement.

“On August 7, 2024, taskforce operatives arrested three suspected cultists within the Auchi Polytechnic community. On August 10, 2024, at approximately 23:40 hours, a massive show of force was conducted within Benin City. Acting on a tip-off, the team stormed a hotel in Upper Sakponba where cult members were holding a meeting. Two suspects were apprehended on the spot.

“The crackdown continued on August 13, 2024, when the operatives, leveraging critical intelligence, arrested a key cult leader in the Ekosodin axis of Ovia North East Local Government Area.

“The following day, in a pre-dawn raid between 03:20 and 05:00 hours, five more notorious cultists, including high-ranking leaders and a butcher, were taken into custody.

“A total of 11 suspects are currently in custody, and investigations are ongoing.”

He noted that the taskforce has a long list of targets, and the it will stop at nothing until every cultist is brought to justice.

“This is a stern warning to all cult members: renounce your affiliations now, or face the full wrath of the law. Parents, we urge you to be vigilant and steer your children away from this path of destruction,”

“The government of Edo State, under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki, is committed to restoring peace and security in our state.

“Governor Obaseki has made it clear that the newly enacted anti-cultism law will be enforced to its fullest extent. The Edo State Special Task Force on Anti-Cultism is empowered to crush all cult-related activities and enforce the ban on the notorious Okaighele groups. We will not rest until Edo State is free from the clutches of cultism. This is a fight we will win.”