Several youths in Edo State have publicly renounced their membership of varied cult teams in a mass train.
The train, themed “Restitution, Rehabilitation and Safer Edo State,” was organised by the Edo State Government as a part of efforts to sort out cultism and different violent crimes.
At the occasion, Governor Monday Okpebholo counseled the youths for renouncing cultism.
Mr Okpebholo, nonetheless, warned others nonetheless concerned within the apply to observe swimsuit or face the total weight of the regulation.
The governor mentioned his administration would maintain its marketing campaign in opposition to cultism and criminality, stressing that the federal government is decided to make the state secure for residents.
“We will not be afraid to go after cultists and felony components in Edo.
“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,” he mentioned.
Mr Okpebholo mentioned the federal government is offering alternatives for rehabilitation and reintegration for these prepared to desert felony actions and switch their lives round.
He warned that the federal government wouldn’t hesitate to order the demolition of buildings used for cult-related actions.
The governor mentioned Edo recorded greater than 300 cult-related killings yearly earlier than his administration assumed workplace in 2024, including that the determine had since dropped to nearly zero.
He didn’t, nonetheless, present statistics to again his declare.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the State Special Security Squad, Operation Flush Out Kidnapping and Cultists, Noah Idemudia, counseled the governor for establishing the squad and supporting its collaboration with safety companies.
Mr Idemudia mentioned the squad had contributed to the state’s efforts to fight kidnapping and cult-related actions.
The Commissioner of Police in Edo, Patrick Daaor, additionally counseled the administration’s efforts to sort out crime, notably cultism.
Mr Daaor mentioned the programme was designed to avoid wasting younger lives and encourage former cult members to change into productive members of society.
The Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Roland Otaru, SAN, mentioned cult-related actions had destroyed lives and property throughout the state.
READ ALSO: Police commissioner in Bayelsa orders crackdown on cult groups
Mr Otaru mentioned the federal government’s initiatives demonstrated its dedication to restoring peace.
He added that establishing a Special Criminal Court had strengthened the state’s felony justice system.
He urged cult members to make the most of the renunciation programme, abandon felony actions and embrace lawful technique of livelihood.
(NAN)
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