Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced that his administration has successfully subdued and defeated violent cultism in the state through a combination of strategic security interventions, intelligence coordination and political will. The declaration was made in a statement released in Benin City and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, on Thursday.
“The battle against cultism was one of the most decisive and uncompromising campaigns of my administration, and under my watch the commercialisation of killing will never be tolerated in Edo,” Okpebholo said. He added: “We will not commercialise killing. Every life in Edo matters to me. Our fight against cultism, kidnapping, and all forms of violent crime is total and irreversible. We have worked closely with the police, the DSS, and other security agencies to restore peace across the state. Today, Edo is safer, calmer, and freer than it has been in many years.”
He explained that the motivation was purely humanitarian, not political. “Serving Edo people is the most important thing to me. What drives us is not the next election but the next generation. We came to change the narrative and restore order after years of fear, neglect and decay,” he said, noting significant progress in rebuilding public confidence through community collaboration and professional policing.
Highlighting specific actions, Okpebholo said his government has heavily invested in security logistics, including vehicles and operational support for law‑enforcement. “Before Christmas last year, we witnessed multiple cult‑related killings. We stepped in immediately because the life of every citizen is sacred. Since then, our coordinated approach has restored calm. Today, nightlife is back in Benin and other parts of the state,” he said. He also decried the decay inherited from the previous administration — dilapidated schools, broken roads and a collapsing public service — and affirmed that his team has already rebuilt schools across the three senatorial districts. “When we took over, public schools had leaking roofs and no chairs or desks. That was the EdoBEST of the last government. Today, we have reconstructed and revitalised schools, and enrolment has surged because people now believe in the system again,” he affirmed.
On agriculture, Okpebholo reaffirmed his commitment to food security under the S.H.I.N.E. Agenda. “Agriculture is central to our development plan. In 2026, we will open up more farmlands and encourage our people to return to farming. The President is passionate about agriculture, and Edo will align with that vision to boost food supply and economic growth,” he said.
Financial prudence was also emphasised. Despite a ₦600 billion debt left by the previous administration, the government has begun paying down liabilities. He cited the Radisson Hotel project as a major inherited burden. “That single project consumed about ₦30 billion, yet Edo owns only 20 percent. We are paying ₦380 million monthly on that debt. Still, we are determined to clear these obligations and free Edo from financial captivity,” he noted. Outstanding entitlements for teachers, doctors, pensioners and staff of the College of Education, Ekiadolor have been settled in tranches. At Ambrose Alli University, the monthly subvention was increased from ₦41 million to ₦500 million.
Additionally, 50 CNG‑powered buses will be distributed across the senatorial districts to ease transport and create jobs. “We are creating employment, boosting productivity, and attracting investors. Edo will soon be a model of economic renewal in Nigeria,” Okpebholo added.
Reflecting on his first year, he said: “We have subdued violent cultism, restored safety, revived schools, reawakened agriculture, and reclaimed public trust. But we’re not done yet. We are rebuilding Edo, one step at a time, until every citizen feels the peace, progress, and prosperity we promised.”
He concluded with a message of unity: “We will not go back to the days of fear and bloodshed. Edo belongs to all of us. Together, we will protect it, rebuild it, and make it shine again.”
The statement was signed by Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, on Thursday, 06 November 2025.
