The Edo State Government has intensified its campaign against cultism, criminal gangs, and ritual practices, sealing multiple properties linked to suspected cult leaders. The latest operation followed the discovery of a shrine in Egbaen community and a violent confrontation in Evboyare that left one person dead.
The coordinated exercise, codenamed Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers, was led by the squad’s coordinator, Idemudia Noah, in collaboration with allied security agencies.
Acting on intelligence, operatives stormed a residence in Egbaen, Egor Local Government Area, in the early hours of Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Though the building was unoccupied, a search revealed a hidden shrine at the rear of the premises containing a white casket and fetish items allegedly used for initiation rituals.
The government immediately ordered the sealing of the property, signaling its resolve to dismantle both the physical and spiritual infrastructure of cultism across the state.
At the same time, security forces moved to Evboyare community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area, where a deadly clash between rival confraternities—the Eiye and Maphite—claimed the life of a young man identified as Festus.
The residence of the alleged Maphite leader, Felix Aigbedion, was sealed after intelligence linked him to the violence. Aigbedion, now declared wanted, is believed to have masterminded the attack that escalated from a community dispute into a cult war.
When operatives arrived, Evboyare bore the scars of destruction. Homes and vehicles had been vandalized, families displaced, and spent cartridges scattered across the streets. Two locally made firearms were recovered from a poultry house allegedly converted into a cult armory.
Speaking after the operation, Noah reaffirmed the government’s zero tolerance stance.
“The administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo is unwavering in its determination to purge Edo State of cult-related violence and criminal syndicates. We have sealed the property of Mr. Felix Aigbedion, implicated in the fatal clash at Evboyare, as well as the Egbaen residence of Mr. Marvellous Adetarami, where a shrine was uncovered. These measures are not symbolic—they are a clear statement that clandestine activities will no longer find sanctuary in Edo State,” he said.
Noah disclosed that investigators also uncovered evidence of extortion during initiation processes, including forced money transfers from victims to cultists. He stressed that the police had been fully briefed and prosecutions are underway.
Issuing a stern warning to cultists, Noah declared:
“They have only two options: renounce or leave Edo State. The full weight of the law will descend on anyone who persists. This government is committed to securing Edo for its people and ensuring peace, stability, and a safe environment for commerce and community life.”
