Cult War In Edo - Police Arrest 95, Govt Seals PDP Chiefs' Hotel, House
https://osazuwaakonedo.video/cult-war-in-edo-police-arrest-95-govt-seals-pdp-chiefs-hotel-house/03/05/2025/
#Nigeria Police Force #EsioririErah #Iduoriyekemwen #Illeh #Inegbineki #Okpebholo #Police #Uromi ©May 3rd, 2025 ®May 3, 2025 11:49 am Edo State Police Command of Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of 95 persons in connection with the killing of more than 15 people between April 25, 2025 and now in the renewed deadly and bloody apparent supremacy secret cult war in the state among members of the Black Axe Confraternity aka Aye, Maphite Confraternity aka Great Men and Eiye Confraternity aka Airlords which started with the killing of a physiotherapist, simply identified as Alex, and another individual at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH back gate, Ugbowo, in Benin, with the Edo State Government led by Governor Monday Okpebholo launching a retaliatory war against businesses and individuals allegedly aiding secret cult killings in the state; thus, sealed off Eterno Hotel, planned to demolish the hotel owed by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Chieftain, Honourable Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, who was the Director General of Asue/Ogie Campaign Organisation in the last Governorship election in the state, on the ground that a particular secret cult group members gathered at the Eterno Hotel to plan their recent killings in the state, and in addition, the Edo State governor also sealed off and marked a residential building for demolition also owed by a PDP Chieftain, Francis Inegbineki. #OsazuwaAkonedo
https://osazuwaakonedo.video/cult-war-in-edo-police-arrest-95-govt-seals-pdp-chiefs-hotel-house/03/05/2025/
#Nigeria Police Force #EsioririErah #Iduoriyekemwen #Illeh #Inegbineki #Okpebholo #Police #Uromi ©May 3rd, 2025 ®May 3, 2025 11:49 am Edo State Police Command of Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of 95 persons in connection with the killing of more than 15 people between April 25, 2025 and now in the renewed deadly and bloody apparent supremacy secret cult war in the state among members of the Black Axe Confraternity aka Aye, Maphite Confraternity aka Great Men and Eiye Confraternity aka Airlords which started with the killing of a physiotherapist, simply identified as Alex, and another individual at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH back gate, Ugbowo, in Benin, with the Edo State Government led by Governor Monday Okpebholo launching a retaliatory war against businesses and individuals allegedly aiding secret cult killings in the state; thus, sealed off Eterno Hotel, planned to demolish the hotel owed by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Chieftain, Honourable Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, who was the Director General of Asue/Ogie Campaign Organisation in the last Governorship election in the state, on the ground that a particular secret cult group members gathered at the Eterno Hotel to plan their recent killings in the state, and in addition, the Edo State governor also sealed off and marked a residential building for demolition also owed by a PDP Chieftain, Francis Inegbineki. #OsazuwaAkonedo
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00:00Edo State Police Command of Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of 95 persons
00:05in connection with the killing of more than 15 people between April 25, 2025 and now in the
00:12renewed deadly and bloody apparent supremacy secret cult war in the state among members of
00:17the Black Axe Confraternity aka Ahye, Mafite Confraternity aka Great Men and Iye Confraternity
00:24aka Erlids which started with the killing of a physiotherapist simply identified as Alex
00:30and another individual at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH Backgate, or BOA, in Benin
00:38with the Edo State Government led by Governor Munday Okpebolo launching a retaliatory war against
00:44businesses and individuals allegedly aiding secret cult killings in the state, thus, sealed off
00:51Eterno Hotel, planned to demolish the hotel owed by People's Democratic Party, PDP Chieftain,
00:57Honorable Matthew Idriah Kemwen, who was the Director General of Aswan Ogye campaign organization
01:03in the last governorship election in the state, on the ground that a particular secret cult
01:09group members gathered at the Eterno Hotel to plan their recent killings in the state,
01:14and in addition, the Edo State Governor also sealed off and marked a residential building
01:19for demolition also owed by a PDP chieftain, Francis Anegbeneke. According to the police,
01:26the Edo State Police Command arrested 95 suspected cultists and recovered two locally made pistols,
01:32one single barrel shotgun and 24 live cartridges in sustained intelligence-driven raids of their
01:38enclaves in Benin City and environs for the past week. These suspects, who belong to the notorious
01:45Maphites, Iye and Iheacon fraternities, were suspected to be responsible for the cult supremacy
01:51killings in the state. The Commissioner of Police, CP Munday Agbonica, urges parents and guardians to keep
01:58a tab on the activities of their wards in order to curb the menace of cultism. He further warned
02:04youths in the state to desist from joining unlawful societies that could only dim their future and ultimately
02:10claim their lives or that of other innocent persons. Sixty-four of the suspects have been charged
02:16to court and remanded, while investigation continues on the remaining suspects, the Police Command
02:22spokesperson, Moses Yamu stated. Office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor in a
02:29statement state that, Edo State Governor, Senator Munday Opepolo, has issued a stern warning to landlords,
02:36declaring that his administration will not hesitate to demolish buildings linked to criminal activities
02:42such as kidnapping, cultism, and rituals. The Governor emphasized his administration's
02:48resolve to ensure a crime-free environment in the state. Governor Opepolo gave the warning while
02:54personally supervising the demolition of a building located in the Ogege area of Benin City.
03:00The building was reportedly used for internet fraud and kidnapping, with victims allegedly held
03:06against their will and subjected to ritualistic practices. Visibly disturbed by what he witnessed
03:11at the site, the Governor said, I am saddened by what is happening here. Children were kidnapped and
03:18kept here for years. You can see the shrines in this apartment. This is wickedness in its highest form.
03:25This kind of evil is unacceptable in Edo State. Reaffirming his administration's commitment to
03:31security. The Governor vowed, we will continue to fight crime and criminality. Wherever they hide,
03:38we will fish them out and demolish their hideouts. There will be no sanctuary for criminals in Edo State.
03:44We are serious and resolute. Edo must be safe. Governor Opepolo also announced plans to repurpose
03:51the sites of demolished properties for public use. We are going to build a police station here. Any land where
03:58such buildings are taken down will be used to serve the community, he assured. In a related development,
04:05the Edo State Government has made significant progress in its crackdown on cultism, following the
04:11demolition of an operational base belonging to a notorious cult group implicated in recent killings
04:17in Benin City. The facility, located at the end of Arena Street in a Magba G.R.A., featured a hall,
04:25several rooms fitted with mattresses, and office spaces, believed to have served as a hub for the
04:30group's activities. The property is also boarded by a moat reportedly used for initiation rituals.
04:38Notably, the premises also contained an industrial overhead stand and tanks donated by its Asia region
04:452016-2021. This action follows the recent enforcement of a new anti-cultism law signed by Governor Opepolo,
04:54which empowers the state to demolish properties associated with cult activities. Meanwhile,
05:00in response to an uptick in cult-related violence in the city, the state government has sealed off
05:05Eterno Hotel, located in the heart of Benin's G.R.A. The hotel is allegedly linked to another cult
05:12group believed to be behind recent killings in the area. Governor Opepolo reiterated his administration's
05:19zero-tolerance stance. No stone will be left unturned, and no individual, regardless of their
05:26status, will be spared under the provisions of the cultism-related offences law. We are determined
05:32to restore peace and order in Edo State. Fred Ichua, the Governor Chief Press Secretary stated.
05:38In another press release, the Chief Press Secretary Office reported that the Edo State Governor,
05:44Senator Munday Opepolo, has launched a crackdown on crime-related properties, beginning with the
05:50demolition of buildings connected to kidnappings and cult-related violence in the state. During the
05:56demolition of a residential duplex in Benin City used for kidnapping and organ harvesting,
06:02the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Ichua, who spoke on behalf of Governor Munday Opepolo,
06:08told journalists that the government had also sealed off Eterno Hotel and an event center.
06:14These facilities, according to Governor Opepolo, are being used by cult groups as gathering points
06:20before launching attacks that claim several lives. Mr. Ichua confirmed that the demolished property
06:26was the site of a gruesome crime involving the abduction and killing of a young woman for organ
06:31harvesting. He revealed that the suspect has been arrested in Lagos and will be extradited to
06:37Edo State to face prosecution. The building was where the crime occurred, and it is owned by the
06:43father of the suspect, who has also made useful statements to the authorities, Mr. Ichua stated.
06:50His Excellency has directed that this is only the beginning. More buildings used for criminal
06:55activities will be demolished. This is backed by existing laws enacted by the present administration.
07:01He emphasized that the crackdown was not politically motivated, contrary to speculations.
07:08This is not a political witch hunt. These buildings were used for acts that contravene the laws of Edo
07:14State. The Governor has made it clear that anyone involved in cultism or related crimes will face the
07:20full force of the law, he added. The owner of the demolished building, Mr. Martin Zoghenawar,
07:27recounted the shocking moment he learned of the crime. On the 23rd of this month, while returning
07:33home, my wife called to inform me that our son had murdered a woman in his quarters. I immediately
07:40reported to the police, who followed me home and helped convey the corpse to the mortuary.
07:45I've been in police custody since then, he said. Mr. Oghenawar further disclosed that his 28-year-old
07:52son had long exhibited troubling behavior. I trained him from primary school through university in
07:58ICPOMA. For over a decade, he has been a problem. I took him to rehab, neuropsychiatric centers,
08:06and even traditional healers. He rarely slept at home, drank excessively, and was often missing.
08:13Now he has destroyed everything I worked for. This house was my retirement plan,
08:18and now I'm watching it being torn down. It's heartbreaking, he lamented. Authorities
08:24confirmed the suspect was apprehended in Lagos with human body parts recovered from him.
08:30Investigations are ongoing as the government intensifies efforts to stamp out kidnapping
08:35and cultism across the state. Fred Ichua, the chief press secretary to Edo state governor in a feature
08:42news story published during the week on the actions and activities of the state governor in tackling
08:47kidnapping and secret cult activities in the state, said, a government worth its salt will do all it
08:54needs to protect its people. In Edo state, governor Ogpevolo has shown clear and purposeful leadership
09:00by taking decisive steps to confront two of the most persistent threats to the state's peace,
09:06cultism and kidnapping. From the outset of his administration, he identified these crimes as
09:12a grave menace to societal stability and public safety. He promptly convened a security council
09:19meeting and issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the commissioner of police to halt the bloody cult clashes
09:24that erupted in parts of Benin city, sending a clear message of zero tolerance. To give his words legal
09:31backing, governor Ogpevolo signed into law two critical legislations. The secret cult and similar
09:38activities prohibition law 2025 and the kidnapping prohibition amendment law 2025. These laws provide
09:48severe consequences for offenders, 21 years imprisonment for sponsors of cultism, 10 years for individuals
09:55hammering cultists, and the death penalty for cult related killings. Similarly, convicted kidnappers face
10:02the death penalty, while any property used to facilitate the crime is to be confiscated and demolished.
10:08However, governor Ogpevolo's approach has gone beyond legislation. It is being matched with deliberate
10:15and determined implementation. Since the enactment of these laws, Edo state has seen the demolition of
10:21several buildings used as hideouts by kidnappers or as rendezvous points for cult groups. In March 2025,
10:29the government began pulling down structures in Ila and Aromi used in high-profile kidnapping cases,
10:35including those where victims were kept until ransoms were paid. In one instance, a property in
10:41Esiorireira in Owen East local government area, reportedly belonging to a kidnap informant, was
10:48flattened after investigations confirmed its use in coordinating abductions. The crackdown on
10:54cultism has been equally forceful. Apartments and facilities identified as cult meeting points have
11:00been sealed and marked for demolition. A notable example is Aterno Hotel, located in the upscale GR
11:07axis of Benin City, where cultists allegedly convened to strategize before launching coordinated attacks
11:13across the city. Security agencies have continued to apprehend suspects, and the state government has
11:20remained firm in its resolve that anyone found culpable will be prosecuted and punished accordingly,
11:26said Fred Ichua.