NEWS EDITORIAL: OKPEBHOLO’S CRUSADE AGAINST CULTISM — EDO FINALLY BREATHES AGAIN

NEWS EDITORIAL: OKPEBHOLO’S CRUSADE AGAINST CULTISM — EDO FINALLY BREATHES AGAIN 

By Festus Alenkhe

For too long, Edo State carried the burden of shame. Communities that were once known for peace and hospitality became theatres of violence. Cultism entrenched itself as a parallel authority, trading in bloodshed, extortion, and fear. Our youths were lost to it, our mothers were left to mourn, and the future of the state was held hostage.

Today, however, there is cause for cautious optimism. There is cause to acknowledge that governance has returned to its primary duty: the protection of lives and property.

Under *Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo*, the fight against cultism has moved beyond rhetoric to measurable action. And the results are becoming evident on our streets: *peace and harmony are gradually returning to Edo.*

Political Will, Decisive Action

What made the difference? Political will.  

This administration drew a clear red line and told cultists in plain terms that the era of impunity was over. The Governor issued a direct mandate to security agencies: dismantle the networks, arrest the sponsors, and restore public order. No sacred cows. No compromises.

The renewed synergy between the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, local vigilante groups, and traditional institutions has produced tangible outcomes — arrests, prosecutions, and the disruption of cult cells that once operated openly. For the first time in years, cult leaders are being forced to look over their shoulders.

The Streets Are Speaking

Visit Benin City this evening. Go to Ekpoma, Auchi, and Uromi. The climate of fear that once gripped our people is lifting.  

Students now attend evening classes without dread. Traders stay later in the markets. Social events and nightlife are slowly bouncing back.

When a mother can send her child for lessons without anxiety, that is governance. When a business owner can close shop at 9pm without fear of attack, that is progress.

Beyond Guns: Providing Alternatives for Youths

The administration also recognizes that cultism cannot be defeated by force alone. As part of a broader strategy, the Okpebholo government is rolling out skills acquisition programmes, sports development initiatives, and youth empowerment schemes.  

Idle hands remain the devil’s workshop. By providing jobs, training, and hope, the government is drying up the recruitment base that cult groups have long exploited.

Our Collective Responsibility

We must not become complacent. Cultism is a hydra-headed problem that thrives on silence, political patronage, and community complicity.

Our appeal to Edo people is therefore straightforward: cooperate with security agencies, expose cultists in your communities, and refuse to shield criminals.  

Parents must monitor their children. Traditional rulers must not harbor offenders in the name of tradition.

To the Governor, we say: sustain the momentum. Continue to fund the security architecture, complete the youth empowerment programmes, and ensure that this peace is permanent, not seasonal.

Conclusion

Edo State is not yet an Eldorado. But we are on the move. Under Senator Monday Okpebholo, we are trading a culture of fear for a culture of peace.

For that, Edo people say thank you. And for the sake of our children and generations to come, we say: *do not relent.