Edo Cult War Claims 15 Lives

There is tension in Benin City, Edo State capital, as rival cult groups, Black Axe and Maphite Confraternities have resumed their battle of supremacy that has led to the killing of no fewer than 15 people so far.
The ugly situation is coming barely three months after the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpehbolo, signed the Secret Cult Prohibition Bill into law that prescribed 21-year jail term for cultists and their sponsors.
It was gathered that the renewed cult war said to be between the two rival groups started on a Friday with the killing of a physiotherapist, simply identified as Alex and one another at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) back gate, Ugbowo in Benin .
Alex was reportedly gunned down by the hoodlums when he went for lunch. Apparently as a reprisal attack, two suspected cult members were said to have been shot at a popular restaurant in the Sapele Road area by yet to be identified gunmen on the same day.
At Upper Forestry Road, one alleged cultist was killed, while two persons were killed at 2nd East Circular and Upper Sakponba Road the following day.
Another person said to be a member of one of the groups was killed at his boutique at 2nd Ugbor Road.
At Ibiwe St., very close to the King Square (Ring Road), another suspected cultist was killed on Saturday evening, just as another said to be a cement dealer was killed in front of his shop that same day.
On Monday evening, one person was shot dead round back of Iyayi Sawmill, Okhoro in Benin, while another victim identified as Iyobo was killed at Obenevebo Community, Sapele Road.
Other areas where casualties have been recorded in the ongoing secret cult killings are Uselu Shell, and Peanut axis, Sapele Road. One person each was killed on Sunday and Monday.
As of the time of this report, the police authorities in Edo State were yet to respond to the killings.
Governor Okpebholo had on January 30, 2025, signed the Secret Cult Prohibition Bill into law, thereby approving a 21-year jail term for cultists and their sponsors.
The Secretary to Edo State Government, Umar Ikhilor, in a statement, said that the previous law was repealed to impose harsher punishments on cultists and their sponsors.
Okpebholo, who lamented the spate of cult-related killings in the state, noted that his administration places priority on the security of lives and property. “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’, he declared.