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Hundreds of cult members, Monday, publicly renounced their membership of various cult groups in Edo State, with Governor Monday Okpebholo warning that those who refuse to turn away from criminal activities will face the full weight of the law without mercy.
The mass voluntary renunciation and denunciation of cultism, organised by the Edo state government, was held in Benin City, under the theme, “Restitution, Rehabilitation and Safer Edo State.”
The ceremony featured an oath of renunciation by former cult members, followed by prayers for their protection, long life and successful transition to a new life.
The prayer session was led by the Chairman of the Edo State Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board, Rev. Fr. Alfred Agbonlahor, who joined other clergymen in committing the repentant youths to God’s protection as they pledged to abandon cultism and embrace peaceful living.
Addressing the gathering, Okpebholo commended the youths for taking the decision to abandon cultism, describing it as an important step towards saving their lives and sparing their families the pain associated with cult-related violence.
He, however, warned those who remained involved in cult activities that his administration would not relent in its campaign against criminality.
“On our part, we are not afraid to go after cultists and criminal elements in the state. Please take the message back to those that have not changed, they still have the power to renounce because if they are caught, there will be no mercy,” the governor stated.
Okpebholo also threatened to demolish buildings used for cult-related activities, stressing that security agencies remained committed to the government’s crackdown on criminal networks.
“The security forces are still behind us. I am ready and hungry to give the directive to demolish any house used for cult-related activities,” he added.
The governor emphasized that his administration was committed to providing genuine opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration for youths willing to abandon crime, stressing that their past should not prevent them from building a better future.
He claimed that Edo state recorded more than 300 cult-related killings annually when his administration assumed office, noting however that “through stronger laws, better security operations, improved intelligence, and tougher enforcement, these killings have been reduced to almost zero.”
According to him, cultism often serves as a gateway to kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes, making the dismantling of cult networks a priority for his administration.
The Commissioner of Police in Edo state, Patrick Daaor, also praised the governor’s commitment to addressing cultism and other security challenges.
Daaor described the renunciation exercise as an opportunity to save young people from violence and encourage them to become productive members of society.
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