Cult War In Edo – $1 Billion Lost Annually – Gov Okpebholo

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo has called for more stakeholders supports and actions towards ending secret cult related killings and other organised violent crimes in the state, stating that the aged long secret cult war in the South South state of Nigeria has driven away a lot of investors and as such, Edo State has been at a loss of one billion dollar every year, with statistics, according to the Governor showing that the natives of Edo State top the list of the highest diaspora remittances in Nigeria, but, over 95 percent of the natives divert the funds to other states to avoid secret cult violence in the state also known as the Heartbeat of the nation. 

Governor Monday Okpebholo made through the office of the Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Fred Itua in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to the statement; “the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has expressed deep concerns over the adverse impacts of long years of cultism on the state’s economy, particularly the loss of lives and the the loss of over $1 billion worth of potential investments annually.

These acts of violence, predominantly driven by clashes among rival cult groups, have not only led to tragic loss of lives and property but have also discouraged investments and tourism, ultimately slowing economic growth.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, stated that the high spate of cult-related violence in the last five years, long before Governor Okpebholo assumed office, has caused substantial disruptions to economic activities, as investors and business owners increasingly grew wary of the security situation.

“What we have witnessed in Edo was more than a threat to public peace—it was a significant drain on our economic potential.

“According to statistics by The Diaspora Commission, Edo State tops the list of states with the highest remittance from the diaspora. However, 95% of the repatriated funds ended up in different states because of cultism and other violent crimes as our people in the diaspora were scared of coming home to invest. This loss in disposable income, closure of businesses, and decline in tourism severely impacted the state’s business climate,” Itua said.

He noted that the state’s critical infrastructure and commercial centers were also affected, with some businesses forced to shut down temporarily or permanently, owing to security concerns. The fear of violence also deterred potential visitors, resulting in a downturn in hospitality, transportation, and other tourism-related sectors.

Itua said the narrative has however changed, since Governor Okpebholo declared a total war on cult-related violence in Edo State.

He said the efforts of Governor Okpebholo are already yielding results, with more stakeholders joining the support groups against cult-related violence in Edo State.

Itua noted that the State is regaining its lost glory and that sanity is being restored. He urged Edo sons and daughters both in Nigeria and in the diaspora to bring their investments home and help in the economic development of the state.

“Governor Monday Okpebholo is restoring peace to Edo State, especially in Benin City, where cult-related violence had held sway for too long. Our hardworking sons and daughters, both in Nigeria and in the diaspora, can now bring their investments to their home land, Edo State.

“Hospitality is a big business in Edo State. We have real estate. Governor Okpebholo is also sanitizing land administration. This means Edo people can now invest massively in real estate.

“Agriculture is a viable sector in Edo State, and it can bring huge returns on investments and create jobs for our people. Governor Okpebholo is urging our people to look towards that direction.

“We have the skills, and the needed support will be given by the administration of Governor Okpebholo for Edo people to set up industries, hotels, commercial farms, real estate, and other key investments. These investments will be protected and guaranteed by the State Government,” Itua noted.

“As for the remnants of miscreants still holding sway in some isolated areas, Governor Okpebholo is engaging community leaders, youth groups, civil society organizations, and security stakeholders to foster peace-building and tackle the root causes of cultism.

“This is not a fight for government alone. It is a collective responsibility. We are calling on all well-meaning Edo citizens to work with Governor Okpebholo in reclaiming our communities from the grip of violence,” Itua added.

He reassured the public that Governor Okpebholo remains committed to building a safe and secure environment where businesses can flourish and citizens can live without fear.

“Edo State has immense economic potentials. Governor Okpebholo will not allow violence and cultism to define our future. With the right partnerships and firm action, Governor Okpebholo is restoring peace, attracting investments, and repositioning our economy for sustainable growth.”

We had reported that the Edo State Government led by Governor Monday Okpebholo has issued an Executive Order, blacklisting a government registered acclaimed sociocultural organisation, the Neo Black Movement, NBM as a violent organisation among those responsible for violent crimes of high rates of secret cult related homicide  killings in the state, and in a swift reaction, the President of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, NBM, Olorogun Ese Kakor while speaking with a panel of presenters at Arise News Television during the TV programme, accused the Governor, Monday Okpebholo of allegedly using members of the Black Axe Confraternity during his election, adding that the Governor never consulted with them to know if members of Black Axe Confraternity are also members of the Neo Black Movement, saying, the Governor is now attacking NBM because of Black Axe, stressing that, Black Axe Confraternity is a criminal organisation, insisting that, members of the confraternity are never members of the NBM, and shortly after the NBM President statement, large group of Youths in Edo State led a solidarity protest match to the Edo State Government House in Benin City to express their support and willingness to defend the government policies and actions to stop the massive destructions of lives and creation of young widows and high rates of fatherless children in the state due to secret cult activities; this, assessments of some of the pro government policy protesters indicated that some of them are people who may have identified themselves in the past as members of the Neo Black Movement and they also appeared to be people very loyal to one of the prominent leaders of the NBM, Anthony Adun aka Tony Kabaka who trend when he was interviewed about the activities of the NBM in a BBC documentary published by the British broadcasting service some years back.

We had repored that, in apparent anger, Edo State Government under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo has issued a serious warning with a strong message sent to the President of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, NBM, Olorogun Ese Kakor that the Edo State Government has started consultations to enable it take more appropriate legal action against the Neo Black Movement, saying, the International Headquarters or Secretariat of the Movement situated AT Amagba area in Benin City that was demolished last month by the State Government, has been an enclave used for planning and execution of secret cult related killings by members of the Neo Black Movement the Governor also referred to and described as Black Axe secret cult, probably expressing more anger that the leadership and members of the Neo Black Movement had the courage to come out publicly to identify themselves with the demolished building, the governor said they will be made to face prosecution, this, the National President of the Neo Black Movement, Olorogun Ese Kakor while speaking in reaction to the demolished building on Arise News TV programme, said, the Movement is not Black Axe, emphasizing that Black Axe is a criminal organisation while the Neo Black Movement is a social cultural organisation that promote and engage in humanitarian services.

It would be recalled that we had reported that the 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.