Edo State government has read the Riot Act to criminals and cultists terrorising residents, including those who attacked soldiers in the state, vowing to rid the state of criminals operating under the guise of cult groups and Okaigheles out of the state.
The commissioner for communication and orientation, Chris Nehikhare, made this disclosure yesterday during a visit to wounded soldiers and a police officers shot by suspected cultists in Okomu -Ijaw Community in Ovia South West local government area.
While pledging the state government support to foot the bills of the wounded military officers receiving treatment at the Military Base Hospital in Benin City, Nehikhare said that the attack on soldiers by civilians in the Okomu community is not unconnected with the nefarious activities of cultists.
Nehikhare, who said Governor Godwin Obaseki frowned at the attack on military personnel, said a task force had been set up by the state government led by the director of the Department of State Services (DSS) to combat cult groups in the state.
“We plead with our leaders, the leaders of Edo South especially, to rein in their children and rein in these people that they have armed one way or the other because the arms they are using are kept somewhere, provided by somebody. Now, they are using it to attack soldiers, not only soldiers but even civilians, on the streets of Edo State.
“We have come to quickly visit the wounded officers and the Army to plead with them and, importantly, to let them know we will take care of whatever bill is incurred and to assure them that Edo State government will not tolerate this untoward behaviour.
“We don’t want what happened in Odi Community in Bayelsa State to happen here in Edo or a repeat of what happened recently in Delta to happen here.
“It is a serious matter, and all Edo people, irrespective of political affiliations, must support the government in this fight against cultism and killings going on. Since January till date, we have lost 150 people in cult-related violence.
“I am here to plead with the Army, and we are happy that the Army is a very responsible organisation that did not take the laws into their own hands; if not, the story would have been different today,” remarked Nehikhare.
