Monday Okpebholo, the State lead representative of Edo State, has promised to step up the demolition of structures associated with cult organizations as part of a renewed campaign against cultism and violent crime. In addition, he threatened to sue Neo Black Movement members.
Following recent admissions by self-proclaimed members who publicly denounced the demolition of one of their alleged operational bases in Benin City, the state government said in a statement issued on Monday by Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, that it has started legal consultations aimed at prosecuting group leaders.
This decision is based on the self-declared leaders of the group publicly acknowledging their involvement and denouncing the legal demolition of a building associated with their operations
By publicly aligning themselves with the structure and its usage, they have confirmed their association with the actions coordinated from the premises, thus paving the way for lawful prosecution,” the statement read.
The statement said that the destroyed facility served as a central location for organizing assaults throughout the state of Benin and its capital.
It stated that the demolition operation was conducted in complete accordance with the law and was founded on actionable intelligence.
“No responsible government will watch helplessly as criminal enclaves flourish under its watch,” the statement further added .
Additionally, since taking office, Governor Okpebholo has called on the Neo Black Movement to fully disclose its claims of rehabilitating six public schools.
The association has been asked by the government to provide the names and addresses of the schools, documentation of the repairs, and any state-issued formal approval.
The governor issued a warning, saying that failure to do so will result in immediate legal action for defamation, misrepresentation, and unauthorized interference in public infrastructure.”
The government also announced intentions to construct a divisional police station on the site of the recently demolished cult-linked structure as an additional security measure.
It stated that the facility will be a symbol of the administration’s zero tolerance for cultism and a deterrent to criminal activities.
Governor Okpebholo reaffirmed his administration’s determination to eradicate cultism from the state and emphasized that further houses connected to criminal gangs will be demolished in the future.
“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, Governor Okpebholo will not sit back and watch innocent citizens killed by criminal gangs hiding under the guise of cult groups. It is the governor’s sworn responsibility to protect lives and property, and he is committed to executing that mandate decisively,” the statement added.
The State lead representative also made it clear that he is neither currently or ever will be associated with any covert organization or cult. “Let it be made unequivocally clear: Edo State is not, and will never be, a haven for cultists.
Anyone involved in cult-related activities is advised to cease and desist or relocate elsewhere. Edo will remain hostile ground for cultism and all its manifestations,” he declared.
The Edo State House of Assembly passed the Anti-Cultism Law, which is still in full force noted in the statement and will continue to be enforced across the state.
