Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has warned landlords in the state, threatening that his administration will not hesitate to demolish buildings linked to criminal activities such as kidnapping, cultism, and rituals.
Okpebholo gave the warning while personally supervising the demolition of a building located in the Ogheghe area of Benin City linked to criminal activities.
The building was reportedly used for internet fraud and kidnapping, with victims allegedly held against their wills and subjected to ritualistic practices.
Visibly disturbed by what he witnessed at the site, the Governor said: “I am saddened by what is happening here. Children were kidnapped and kept here for years. You can see the shrines in this apartment, this is wickedness in its highest form. This kind of evil is unacceptable in Edo State.”
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to security, the Governor vowed, “We will continue to fight crime and criminality. Wherever they hide, we will fish them out and demolish their hideouts. There will be no sanctuary for criminals in Edo State. We are serious and resolute Edo must be safe.”
He also announced plans to repossessed the sites of demolished properties for public use. “We are going to build a police station here. Any land where such buildings are taken down will be used to serve the community,” he assured.
In a related development, the Edo State Government has made significant progress in its crackdown on cultism, following the demolition of an operational base belonging to a notorious cult group implicated in recent killings in Benin City.
The facility, located at the end of Arena Street in Amagba GRA, featured a hall, several rooms fitted with mattresses, and office spaces believed to have served as a hub for the group’s activities.
The property is also bordered by a moat reportedly used for initiation rituals.
Notably, the premises also contained an “Industrial Overhead Stand and Tanks donated by its Asia Region 2016–2021.”
This action follows the recent enforcement of a new anti-cultism law signed by Governor Okpebholo, which empowers the State to demolish properties associated with cult activities.
Meanwhile, in response to an increase in cult-related violence in the city, the State government has sealed off Eterno Hotel, located in the heart of Benin’s GRA.
The hotel is allegedly linked to another cult group believed to be behind recent killings in the area.
Governor Okpebholo reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance stance.
“No stone will be left unturned, and no individual, regardless of their status, will be spared under the provisions of the cultism-related offenses law. We are determined to restore peace and order in Edo State,” Okpebholo said.
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