Edo State Security: 29-Year-Old Renounces Cult Membership, Surrenders Firearm to Authorities
BENIN CITY — In a notable development for Edo State's ongoing counter-cultism and anti-crime initiatives, a 29-year-old male has voluntarily renounced his membership in an illicit cult group and surrendered a Beretta pistol to law enforcement officials.
The Zonal Commander of the Edo State Security Corps, Joel Aidamebor, disclosed the details during a press briefing in Benin City on Friday. According to Aidamebor, the breakthrough stemmed from a security alert raised by the Acting Chairman of the Esan West Local Government Area, Blessing Ebhodaghe, who had detected suspicious activity at a school adjacent to his residence.
Security Intervention and Community Engagement
Upon receiving the alert, the Edo State Security Corps, in coordination with the Nigeria Police Force, swiftly dispatched operatives to the scene. Several young men were apprehended and transported to a local station for interrogation. Following preliminary investigations, a number of the detainees were released.
In the wake of the incident, Chairman Ebhodaghe convened a strategic engagement with local youths, urging them to reject cultism, armed robbery, and other criminal enterprises in favor of legitimate, productive livelihoods.
Following this community outreach, one of the attendees approached the council chairman to formally express his intention to defect from his cult group.
“The chairman immediately informed the Edo State Security Corps and the Divisional Police Officer. The young man then voluntarily surrendered a Beretta pistol in his possession,” Aidamebor stated.
The individual and the recovered firearm were subsequently transferred to Benin City, where the weapon was officially handed over to the police for further forensic investigation.
Government and Leadership Reaction
Commander Aidamebor commended the individual's decision, describing it as a courageous step, and urged other cult parts across Edo State to emulate the gesture by embracing a lawful lifestyle.
Aidamebor reaffirmed the commitment of the Edo State Government, under the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, to eradicate cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery, and related violent crimes through sustained inter-agency collaboration and community partnerships.
Corroborating the account, Acting Chairman Ebhodaghe issued an appeal to youth involved in cult activities to utilize this window of opportunity to reform their lives and contribute positively to society.
The Defector's Perspective
Providing insight into his decision, the 29-year-old—an aspiring musician—stated that he was motivated to defect after listening to Ebhodaghe’s address regarding the systemic dangers of cultism and social vices.
He noted that the chairman's appeal prompted rigorous self-reflection, leading to a conscious decision to pursue a better future. The individual disclosed that he informed a confidant of his intentions prior to surrendering the Beretta pistol to the authorities. He emphasized that he deliberately refrained from selling or transferring the firearm to third parties out of concern that the weapon could be used to perpetrate further crimes, which could ultimately be traced back to him.
Furthermore, the individual revealed that Governor Monday Okpebholo had personally encouraged him to leverage his experience to dissuade other youths from engaging in violence and cultism, while advising him to remain focused on his professional aspirations in the music industry.
This development coincides with intensified, statewide operations by the Edo State Government and joint security agencies to curb cult-related violence and guarantee public safety.
