Okpebholo to crackdown cultists, other criminals in Edo

By Efe Ehigie

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has declared war on secret cult members and other criminal elements in the state.

The newly sworn – in Governor has ordered the heads of various security agencies in the State to smoke out criminals and make the state unsafe for criminal elements.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, revealed this in a statement Tuesday morning that Okpebholo gave the order during an inaugural security meeting held behind closed doors in Government House, Benin City.

The statement noted that Governor Okpebholo prioritizes security and revealed that his government is doing everything to ensure that the State is safe and very peaceful for every resident.

He added that the issue of cultism dominated the security discussion, and his administration will not fold its arms, while cult-related killings continue in the State.

He, therefore, urged security agencies to collaborate and ensure that they put a stop to the killings in the State, especially in Benin City.

“During my campaign, I placed security above all. It is a priority for my administration because it is important. The issue of cultism dominated the discussion. The rate of cultism is not acceptable to my administration,” Okpebholo said.

“The issue of cultism is not acceptable in Edo State. We do not want to lose anybody, and we will be firm about this. We have ordered security agencies to collaborate and ensure that Edo is safe for all, but not safe for criminals.

“We charged them to smoke criminals out of the State wherever they are hiding and ensure that the State is safe for all,” he said.

In a related development, the State Commissioner of Police, Umoru Peter Ozigi, said various security agencies during the security council meeting, discussed areas of concern and the efforts made so far.

Ozigi said that the Governor has assured them of the support of his administration in ensuring that Edo is safe for all.

“We just finished the first security council meeting with the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo. We have discussed areas of concern and our efforts so far,” Ozigi said.

“The Governor has assured us that he will give us the needed support and ensure that Edo State is a place for all to live and do business peacefully,” he added.