By Owen Eresoyen, Benin
Edo State Government, under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, has continued to demonstrate efforts and commitment towards ensuring peace and safety, in the land, in line with his campaign promise to ensure security of lives and properties.
Mr. Governor has been able to achieve this to a large extent, by strengthening the security forces in Edo state, through moral and other forms of support, as it would be recalled recently, the purchase of new Hilux vehicles, handed over to security operatives in the state, by Edo State Government.
Sen. Okpebholo, is not only matching words with actions, but has continued to do everything within his office to ensure that every form of insecurity; threat to lives and destruction of properties, is completely rooted out from Edo State and perpetrators of such acts, are made to face the law appropriately.
The menace of cultism and cult related violence is something that has continued to linger in Edo, as the previous administration barely did anything significant to address this monster that has continued to claim the lives of youths and cut down on the productivity of young able bodied men. When this administration came on board on November 12th, 2024, Mr. Governor was tasked with a duty to put an end to a cult war situation that was already uncontrollable, but by his wisdom, strategy and effective collaboration with security agencies, he was able to put a stop to the wanton destruction of lives and properties.
On January 28th, 2025, the Edo State Government, through the Secretary to State Government, announced a repealing of the Edo State Secret Cult (Prohibition law) of 2018, which has been replaced by the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition law) 2025, passed by the Edo State House of Assembly and approved by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo state.
The 2025 prohibition law on secret cult, bears more tougher sanctions towards cultists and sponsors of cultism in the state, with punitive measures ranging from jail terms, confiscation and demolition of properties owned by cultists or used to conduct cult related meetings and events. This prohibition law which leaves no room for complacency in the fight against cultism could just be the antidote that Edo state has long been in search for, to cure this menace.
Section 5 and 6 of this new law, stipulates the amount of jail term numbering up to 21 years for sponsors of cult related activities and a 10 years jail term for those who knowingly harbour members of secret cult or permit secret cult meeting to hold in a place they have control over such as a house or building, while section 12, states a jail term of 21 years for anyone who injures, maims or kills, in furtherance of the activity of any secret cult without an option of fine, while in the case of fatality, the perpetrator(s) shall be liable to death upon conviction.
