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Speaker 1: In apparent anger, Heado State Government under the leadership of

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Governor Monday ok Pebholo, has issued a serious warning with

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a strong message sent to the President of the Neo

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Black Movement of Africa nbm Olaguna Seka Corps that the

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Edo State Government has started consultations to enable it take

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more appropriate legal action against the Neo Black Movement, saying

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the international headquarters or secretariat of the movement situated at

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a Magba area in Benin City that was demolished last

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month by the state government, has been an enclave used

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for planning and execution of secret cult related killings by

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members of the Neo Black movement. The governor also referred

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to and described as Black acts secret cult, probably expressing

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more anger that the leadership and members of the Neo

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Black Movement had the courage to come out publicly to

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identify themselves with the demolished building. The governor said they

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will be made to face prosecution this The National President

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of the Neo s Black Movement, Olarogunaseka KORPS, while speaking

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in reaction to the demolished building on a Rise News

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TV program, said the movement is not Black Acts, emphasizing

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that black Acts is a criminal organization, while the Neo

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Black Movement is a social cultural organization that promote and

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engage in humanitarian services. The Neo Black Movement earlier, in

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a statement jointly issued by Olaroguna, Seika Kor and Chief

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Calvin Agroco National President and Secretary, respectively, the Body condemned

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the action of Edo State Government, describing the demolition of

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their international headquarters as unconstitutional and ultra Viya’s decision that

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contradicted provisions of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria,

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considering the fact that the organization was a duly registered entity.

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According to the Body, the provisions of section seven of

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the Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Law twenty twenty five,

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which the Edo State god Government relied upon to carry

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out the demolition, contravene the provisions of the Constitution as

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contained in sections thirty six, forty forty two, forty three

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and forty four of the c fr N nineteen ninety nine,

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as amended as Section seven of the Secret Cult and

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Similar Activities Prohibition Law twenty twenty five. The statement read

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in part. NBM of Africa is a registered non governmental

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organization that carries out humanitarian services. The organization also protects,

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preserves and promotes African culture. It was founded under the

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principles of Pan Africanism on the sixteenth of October nineteen

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seventy seven and registered as a non governmental organization under

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part Sea of Karma on the twenty fourth of February

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nineteen ninety four with registration numbers seven thousand, seven hundred

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and twenty nine. The organization has over two hundred branches,

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all in Nigeria and the diaspora. It has its International

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Secretariat at a Magba Benin City, Heado State. The International Secretariat,

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which was built over a period of time and completed

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in the year twenty twenty two, comprises a two thousand

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capacity events center, a twenty room accommodation facility, fully furnished offices,

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a skill acquisition center and is fully air conditioned. The

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Secretariat has been functioning with a two hundred and fifty

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kVA generator to power the entire facility. The Amphitheater is

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a state of the art facility. The Edo State Government

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is a beneficiary of the organization’s humanitarian and charitable services.

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In February twenty twenty five, the organization donated school desks, chairs, doors,

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windows and writing materials to twelve primary and secondary schools

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recommended by the Edo State Government. The schools and pupils

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are still reading from the benefits of the humanitarian gesture

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of the US organization, the NBM, stated, the Neo Black

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Movement stated, reacting on Monday, the Edo State Governor Monday

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op Pepolo, through the Office of the Chief Press Secretary,

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demanded the group to make available the schools it claimed

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it renovated and gave the donated educational materials and the

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letter of approval given to the movement to perform such

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humanitarian services. The governor said the Edo State Government has

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issued a strong warning and has commenced necessary legal consultations

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towards taking a decisive legal action against the Neo Black

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Movement also known as Black Acts, over the recent spate

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of killings and cult related violence in Edo State. This

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decision is premised on public admission by self acclaimed leaders

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of the group, who have openly identified themselves and condemned

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the lawful demolition of a building link to their activities.

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By publicly aligning themselves with the structure and its usage,

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the they have confirmed their association with the actions coordinated

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from the premises, thus paving the way for lawful prosecution.

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The building in question was not just a regular structure.

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It was a hub for planning and executing violent attacks

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across Benein Metropolis and other parts of Edo State. No

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responsible government will watch helplessly as criminal enclaves flourish under

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its watch. The demolition of that property was a direct

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response to actionable intelligence, and it was carried out in

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line with the provisions of the Anti Cultism now duly

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passed by the Edo State House of Assembly. In response

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to recent claims by the group that they have renovated

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six public schools in Edo States since Senator Monday ok

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Pepolo assumed office as Executive Governor, the government demands of

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full disclosure. The group must, without delay, publicly list the

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names and locations of the schools allegedly renovated, provide documented

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proof of the said renovations, and present the official letter

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of approval or partnership granted by the Edo State Government

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authorizing such actions. Failure to do so will result in

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immediate legal action for defamation, misrepresentation, and unauthorized interference in

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public infrastructure. To further entrench law and order, the state

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government will soon commence the development of a divisional police

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station on the parcel of land where the demolished cult

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linked structure once stood. This permanent security presence will serve

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as a deterrent and protect law abiding citizens and residents

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in the area. More demolitions of buildings and properties linked

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to cultists and the criminal networks will follow in the

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coming days. The Ocpepholo led administration, relying on the existing

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anti cultism legislation, remains unwavering in its result to sanitize

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Edo’s state of all forms of cultism. As the chief

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security officer of the state, Governor ok Pepholo will not

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sit back and watch innocent citizens killed by criminal gangs

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hiding under the guise of cult groups. It is the

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Governor’s sworn responsibility to protect lives and property and he

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is committed to executing that mandate decisively. For the avoidance

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of doubt. Governor of Pepolo has no affiliation, past, present,

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or future with any cult group or clandestine organization. He

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remains neutral and committed solely to the welfare and safety

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of the people of Edo State. Any such group found

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operating within the state will be dismantled and its members

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will be arrested and prosecuted without hesitation. Let it be

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made unequivocally clear. Edo’s State is not, and will never

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be a safe haven for cultists. Anyone involved in cult

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related activities is advised to cease and desist or relocate elsewhere.

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As long as Senator Monday op Pepolo remains the executive Governor,

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Edo will be a hostile ground for cultism and all

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its manifestations. The anti Cultism Law remains in full effect

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and will continue to be enforced. The Opepolo administration will

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stop at nothing to rid Edo State of those who

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threaten peace, security and the sanctity of human life. The

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governor stated, as contained in the press release issued and

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made available by Fred Ichua, the Chief Press Secretary to

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the Edo State Governor, on Monday the twelfth of May

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twenty twenty five. It would be recalled that we had

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reported that the Edo State Police Command of Nigeria Police

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Force has confirmed the arrest of ninety five persons in

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connection with the killing of more than fifteen people between

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April twenty fifth, twenty twenty five and now in the

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renewed deadly and bloody apparent supremacy secret cult war in

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the state among members of the Black Acts Confraternity AKAAA,

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Maffi Confraternity aka Great Men and Ia Confraternity aka Elents,

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which started with the killing of a physiotherapist simply identified

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as Alex and another individual at the University of Benin

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Teaching Hospital ubth back Gate were boo in Benin with

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the Edo State government led by Governor monday O Pevolo,

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launching a retaliatory war against businesses and individuals allegedly aiding

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secret cult killings in the state. Thus sealed off Eturno

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Hotel planned to demolish the hotel owned by People’s Democratic

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Party PDP Chieftain Honorable Matthew Idraia Kenwyn, who was the

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director general of assuan Ooggier campaign organization in the last

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governorship election in the state, on the ground that a

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particular secret cult group members gathered at the Eturno Hotel

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to plan their recent killings in the state. And in addition,

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the Edo State Governor also sealed off and marked a

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residential building for demolition also owned by a PDP chieftain

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Francis and Egbineki Lady Guinni Bini Engines somewhere