Just In: We’ll flush out cultists, other criminal elements from Edo – state government

Edo State Government has promised to flush out cultists and other criminal elements who are making living unbearable for the people of the state. 

Making the promise on Sunday afternoon was the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare, when he paid a sympathy visit to the hospital where the military men attacked in Okomu Forest area of Ovia South West Local Government Area of the state on Friday are taking treatment. 

Nehikhare, who was accompanied on the visit by the State Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Hon. Kingsley Uwagbale and the State Commissioner of Police, Festus Adegboye, said: “I think it’s important for all of us to understand that it’s not right in any shape or form for the military to be attacked in any community here in Edo State. 

“A few weeks ago I am sure you’re aware of what happened in community in Delta State where over 20 soldiers were killed. These people were killed by those we call youths. In Edo State we have a bad case of cultism and what you call Okhaighele in Benin(Edo South) area. The data available to us provided to the state Security Council has said that these are the people that are mostly responsible for the insecurity in Edo State. That’s why this groups of people are banned. A taskforce was also set up to go into this matter and to neutralize other evil plans they’ve. 

“Just as government was banning it we discover that some people went ahead to say they should ignore the government ban. There’s only one government at a time. And that emboldened these people to go into Okomu Forest to attack our soldiers protecting our assets. We have received one of them now. The others are probably worse but we don’t have them on camera. An officer and two soldiers were badly injured. The gunboat they were in was destroyed. Riddled with bullets. This is in Edo State. We don’t want a situation….”

Going further, he stressed: “We take this thing very seriously and we plead with the leaders of Edo South to rein in their children and rein in these people that they armed one way or the other. Because the arm they’re using are kept somewhere; they’re provided by somebody and now they’re used to attack soldiers even civilians on the streets of Edo State. 

“We have come to visit the soldiers to plead with them that we will take care of whatever bill is incurred and to assure them that Edo State Government will not tolerate this kind of behavior. We don’t want what happened in Odi years ago to happen. Or what happened a few weeks ago in Delta to happen. It’s a serious matter. 

“All Edo people irrespective of political affiliation must support government in this fight against cultism and killings that is going on. Since January we have lost 150 people through reckless death because cultists believe they run the streets. I am happy the army are a responsible organization. 

“We’re going to carry out an operation effective this week. There’s a lot of security information, a lot of data we have. We’re going to go after them. So advise them to return the arms they have, renounce the cult they belong to and to come and clear themselves because when the push starts nothing is going to stop it.”