Obaseki Bans Activities Of Okaigheles, Declares War On Cultism

***Passes anti-cultism law as Edo loses over 150 persons to cult-related activities in five months.

**Sets up special task force to combat cultism

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has banned the activities of Okaigheles (Youth Leader) in Edo South Senatorial District of the State, as part of a renewed effort to tackle cultism in the State.

Obaseki disclosed this while speaking with journalists after a closed-door meeting with security Chiefs in Edo State, at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

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Obaseki, while noting that at least 150 persons have been lost to cult-related activities and homicide since January 2024 till date, said his government has declared a total war against cultism and has set up a special task force of the Security Council headed by the Director of the Department of State Security (DSS) that will from tonight review every cult related incident in the State.

He said, “We have just finished the Security Council Meeting where we reviewed the security situation in Edo State since January 2024 with particular emphasis on the security activities in Edo in May 2024.

From the security management report which was considered in our security meeting, we still have a nagging issue in Edo State which is cultism. The incidence of cultism is very high.

“What is particularly worrisome about cultism is the related homicide that goes with cult-related activities. From January to date, we have lost over 150 people to cult-related activities and homicide. We can’t tolerate and accept this situation anymore.