In a bid to address the rising menace of confraternity groups in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has strongly condemned their activities and issued a directive to security operatives to take immediate action against the perpetrators. The governor made this statement after a closed-door meeting with security chiefs at the Government House in Benin City.
Governor Obaseki revealed that a review of cult activities in the state showed that 150 individuals have lost their lives due to cult-related activities and homicides since January 2024. In response to this alarming situation, the governor announced a ban on the activities of Okaigheles (Youth Leaders) in the Edo South Senatorial District. He also emphasized that an anti-cultism law has been passed and will be fully implemented.
To tackle the issue head-on, the security council has established a special task force headed by the Director of the Department of State Security (DSS). This task force will review all cult-related incidents in the state starting from Monday, June 3, 2024.
The ongoing cult clashes have resulted in a recent spate of violence in Benin City and its environs. At least seven people have been killed in different locations, indicating a suspected renewed clash between the Black Axe and Malphite Confraternities. The violence is believed to be connected to the one-year remembrance of a member who was killed in 2023.
The situation has escalated, with dead bodies littering the city and reports of reprisal attacks. Flashpoints for the killings include Upper Mission, Ugbor, Ekosodin, and 3rd East Circular Road. However, the police have been actively working to address the situation, having already arrested six suspects with AK-47 rifles.
The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Funsho Adegboye, assured the public that the police are determined to clamp down on the hoodlums responsible for the violence. He stated that they are actively pursuing the leaders and will not rest until justice is served.
The governor’s firm stance against cult activities, the ban on Okaigheles, and the establishment of a special task force demonstrate the commitment of the Edo State Government to address the menace of cultism and restore peace and security to the state.
