Governor Monday Okpebholo has declared an unrelenting war against cultism, kidnapping, and ritual killings, warning landlords across the state that his government will not hesitate to demolish buildings used as criminal hideouts.
The governor issued the stern warning on Wednesday while personally supervising the demolition of a property in the Ogheghe area of Benin City, which security reports linked to cybercrime, kidnapping, and ritual practices.
The disturbing discoveries at the scene reportedly included shrines and evidence of prolonged captivity of victims, including children.
“I am saddened by what is happening here. Children were kidnapped and kept here for years. You can see the shrines in this apartment. This is wickedness in its highest form. This kind of evil is unacceptable in Edo State,” Okpebholo lamented.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to restoring safety and public order, Okpebholo declared: “We will continue to fight crime and criminality. Wherever they hide, we will fish them out and demolish their hideouts. There will be no sanctuary for criminals in Edo State. We are serious and resolute Edo must be safe.”
The Governor further announced that confiscated properties would be repurposed to serve the community, beginning with the construction of a police station on the site of the demolished Ogheghe building.
“We are going to build a police station here. Any land where such buildings are taken down will be used to serve the community,” he said.
In a related operation, state authorities also brought down a structure identified as the operational base of a notorious cult group in the Amagba GRA area of Benin.
The facility included a meeting hall, rooms outfitted with mattresses, and offices suspected to have supported cult-related activities. Disturbingly, a nearby moat reportedly served as an initiation ground.
Among the seized infrastructure was an industrial water stand bearing markings of donations from the cult’s Asia Region (2016–2021), suggesting international affiliations and far-reaching networks.
The demolition drive follows the recent signing of a strengthened anti-cultism law by the governor, granting the state power to demolish any property tied to cult operations or ritual killings.
To further cut off perceived sanctuaries of cult groups, the state government also sealed off Eterno Hotel, located in Benin’s Government Reservation Area (GRA), which is allegedly linked to recent cult-related killings.
“No stone will be left unturned, and no individual, regardless of their status, will be spared under the provisions of the cultism-related offenses law. We are determined to restore peace and order in Edo State,” Okpebholo warned.
