NEWS
Okpebholo Initiates Special Anti-Kidnapping, Anti-Cultism Squad
As part of efforts to address the rising wave of insecurity, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has approved the establishment of a Special Security Squad aimed at flushing out kidnappers and cultists terrorizing the state.
The new operation, titled “Operation Flush Out Kidnappers and Cultists”, is a strategic initiative by the Office of the Principal Security Officer (PSO) to the Governor and will be coordinated jointly by the PSO and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) at the Government House.
For years, Edo State has grappled with worsening security challenges, especially in the form of rampant cultism and targeted kidnappings. The most affected areas have included Benin City, Ekpoma, Auchi, and their environs, with reports of daylight abductions, cult-related killings, and extortion by criminal gangs.
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This state of insecurity had led to the exodus of investors, disrupted local economies, and left residents living in fear.
Since assuming office, Governor Okpebholo has made security a top priority. One of his earliest declarations was the intention to offer amnesty and reintegration to repentant cultists, encouraging them to turn a new leaf and contribute to society.
This initiative yielded early success as some former cult members embraced the call and joined community policing and civic education programs.
However, the continued activities of hardened criminals have necessitated a more robust response. According to a formal memo, dated July 11, 2025, the new operation will collaborate with the Nigeria Police and other sister security agencies to dislodge deadly cultists and kidnapping syndicates operating across the 18 local government areas.
The squad will consist of a carefully profiled and recruited team of able-bodied men, including repentant cultists, hunters, and vigilantes. These recruits will form local squads within each LGA, ensuring community involvement and swift operational response to security threats.
To facilitate the operation’s mobility and effectiveness, the request notes that vehicles and motorcycles will be deployed for patrol and tactical operations.
This initiative is not without precedence. In 2016, a similar civilian anti-cult group was launched in Ekpoma, which significantly reduced cult violence and kidnappings in the area.
Recalling this success, the current administration believes that replicating such civilian-driven operations across the State will yield measurable and sustained security improvements.
Upon granting the approval, Governor Okpebholo reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on violent crimes.
“We will not allow criminality to dictate the future of our State. Edo State must be safe again for our children, for investors, and for those in the diaspora who want to come home and contribute,” he stated.
Security agencies have now been placed on red alert across the State. The Governor has directed the PSO and CSO to ensure full implementation of the operation, noting that accountability, professionalism, and community engagement must remain at the heart of the new initiative.
As “Operation Flush Out Kidnappers and Cultists” takes off, hopes are high that Edo State is entering a new chapter in its quest for peace and security, one where citizens, security forces, and community leaders work hand in hand to reclaim the streets from the grip of criminal elements.
Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is set to address a world press conference at his residence in Abuja on Friday.
The specific reason for the media briefing has not been disclosed as of the time of filing this report.
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Atiku’s planned engagement comes amid several developments attracting public attention, including a recent report from TheCable concerning a $500,000 payment allegedly transferred in 2003 to his former wife, Jennifer Douglas, by Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited.
TheCable reported that Adesanya told an international arbitration tribunal that the payment was part of a foreign-exchange transaction carried out for Atiku.
The report further stated that the payment was made through China Castle Investments Limited, an offshore company controlled by Adesanya.
The development comes shortly after an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) tribunal ruled in favour of Nigeria in the $2.35 billion arbitration dispute brought by Sunrise Power over the Mambilla hydropower project.
The tribunal also ordered Sunrise Power and its promoter to reimburse Nigeria for a portion of its legal fees and expenses.
However, there is currently no official indication that Atiku’s scheduled press conference is connected to the Sunrise Power report, the arbitration ruling or any other specific issue.
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that no one found culpable in the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State will be shielded.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance in a statement released on Friday while expressing the Federal Government’s condolences to the Niger State Government, the families of the deceased and the people of the Wushishi community.
The deaths occurred following the arrest of the suspected illegal miners during enforcement operations against illegal mining activities in the Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Niger State.
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Idris said the circumstances surrounding the deaths require a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation, stressing that the government’s responsibility is to establish the facts and ensure justice is served.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had ordered the suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and directed a full investigation into the incident.
“The swift action taken by the Honourable Minister of Interior underscores the seriousness with which the Federal Government views this matter,” Idris said.
He added that the investigation would be allowed to establish exactly what happened and that appropriate action would be taken based on its findings.
“There will be no attempt to shield anyone found culpable. At the same time, we mustn’t prejudge the outcome of the investigation. The Government’s responsibility is to ensure that the facts are established and that justice is served,” the minister said.
Idris stressed that while the Federal Government remains committed to combating illegal mining and other unlawful activities, enforcement operations must be conducted within the law and with respect for human life and dignity.
He appealed for calm in Wushishi and across Niger State, urging residents and other concerned parties to allow the investigation to proceed without interference.
The minister also assured the families of the deceased and the people of Niger State that the Federal Government shares in their grief and remains committed to fully establishing the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday arrived at the Niger State Government House in Minna following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The minister’s visit comes as pressure mounts on authorities to explain the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the detainees.
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Tunji-Ojo is expected to meet with officials of the Niger State Government as part of his visit to the state.
He is also expected to proceed to the detention centre where the suspected illegal miners were held before their deaths.
The incident has sparked public concern and protests in Minna, with residents demanding answers over the deaths of the detainees while in government custody.
The Federal Government has ordered an investigation into the incident, while the Niger State NSCDC commandant has been suspended pending the outcome of the probe.
Details shortly…….
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