The Chief of Staff to the governor of Edo State, Hon Osaigbovo Iyoha, on Wednesday, said the government of the Governor has vowed to flush out cultism and cult-related activities in all parts of the state.
He stressed that the government would not be blackmailed or intimidated by any group.
Iyoha while reacting to viral audio attacks on him said with support from security agencies, cultism would become history in the state. He added that the strategy being deployed would be extended to tertiary institutions in the state, adding that the government cannot be intimidated or blackmailed.
Iyoha was instrumental to the recent raids of several hideouts of different cult groups in parts of Benin including Ekosodin, largely populated by students where suspected cultists always run to hide after committing a crime, a hotel in Oluku said to be owned by a popular politician and businessman which was being used by a particular cult group and another hotel in Iyoha along NIFOR Road said to be used by another cult group.
The Chief of Staff said, “ThosObaseki vows to eradicate cultism in Edoe attacking me are the ones trying to hide and they are becoming tired of hiding because they can no longer be accommodated by their benefactors.
“We learnt that they killed somebody recently but that will not deter us. We are going to flush them out this time. We are ready to confront them, I am personally involved in it. We already have a team that understands these cultists and they have also resolved that they are taking their hands off cultism.
“The government is coming after you if you are a killer if you are a cultist and you don’t want to stop the bad activities,” he added.
Iyoha said those who are ready to leave cultism would be profiled and their biometrics was taken and that all of the rival cult groups would know each other and check each other’s activities to maintain peace in the land.
It would be recalled that a few days ago, the state government through the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie warned against violence and terror in the state.
In a statement, Ogie said: “The Edo State Government has taken actions to quell the violence and irresponsible acts even as suspects have been apprehended and taken into custody.
“We stress without equivocation that no matter the campaign of terror, resort to violence and an evil ploy to blackmail and tarnish the image of the government, the state will stop at nothing and spare no expense in fishing out any perpetrator of these criminal activities.
“The state government, therefore, advises parents and guardians to restrain their children and wards from engaging in actions that imperil the lives of others, which is intended to create a sense of insecurity in the state.
“No one will be spared, and we will ensure that the long arm of the Law catches up with anyone found culpable in these dastardly acts,” he added.
