Oshiomhole and Edo Cultists: How notorious fratmen run Edo State Government

Oshiomhole and Edo Cultists: How notorious fratmen run Edo State Government

The involvement of alleged cultists in major positions of government in Edo State has raised concerns over their roles in the rising wave of cult activities in the state and the inability of the authorities to curb the vice.

Investigations carried out by the Nigerian Times clearly shows that the ‘high and mighty’ in the state might be complicit, including state officials, heads of government agencies and leaders of traditional institutions.

The decision by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, who last week dispatched a special squad to Edo State to tackle the crimes, has raised a number of posers as to why the problem has continued to spread.

The squad which immediately went to work arrested one David Olukoga, Chairman, Edo State Committee on War against Indiscipline and Senior Special Assistant on Youth Enhancement to the Governor of the State.

Also picked up by the police were Osunde Aigbedo, Executive Director, Special Duties, Government House, Edo State, Dr. Salako Adebowale, 43, of UBTH, Benin-City; Ernest Amadasun, 49, the Managing Director, Pohien Investments and National Coordinator, Human Assistant Initiative and Adebo Ejuaoje, 46, of the Ministry of Education, Science and Tech Vocational, Iyaro, Benin City.

Apart from many foot soldiers who were apprehended by the police, one  Uche Chukwuka, 36, the Private Secretary to the Chairman, Committee on Environment, Ministry of Environment, Edo State was also rounded up for his involvement in cult activities.

The Nigerian Times learnt that it was not the first time Olukoga, 46, who was commissioned to wipe out all acts of indiscipline in the state would be involved in actions that run contrary to what he was sworn in to do.

Just recently, investigations by this medium showed that a shootout ensued between the suspect and another kingpin,   identified as Tony Kabaka, Senior Special Adviser to the governor on neighbourhood watch. The clash took place at the government house, Benin City.

The aides had become too powerful for even the governor, who tried to placate them after an altercation at ward 8 located at George Idah Primary school , during the last election registration exercise in Oredo local government area just before the run-up to the election.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole was reportedly in his office in the government house when he heard the gunshots as the two powerful aides engaged in a gun fight.

Olukoga was on Monday paraded by the Police in Abuja for his involvement in a number of cult-related deaths in the state this year. The police accused him of being an eiye confraternity leader.

Kabaka was allegedly working to win part of the state APC structure for the Deputy Governor Pius Odubu at the time while the WAI brigade chief Olukoga was the leader of the support group for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, just before he left the APC for the People’s Democratic Party.

It was Kabaka who in the heat of an argument, allegedly slapped Olukoga, who retaliated instantly, resulting in a fight for both armed men.

The governor was said to have invited the two opposing groups into his office even as he scolded his security personnel on the ground for allowing matters to degenerate to a shooting spree.

The governor was also said to have later handed the aggrieved men to a top government official to resolve their differences.

Another issue that has increased cult activities according to residents of the city is the public display of insignias and attitudes exhibited by various criminal sects and the fact that the public officials publicly identify with the various cults.

One incident recently was during the burial of a high ranking hitman in one of the cults. Some government officials were seen leading the parade, while some suspected cult boys wore the official WAI Brigade uniform.

In fact, some persons say Olukoga, arrested by the federal crack squad deployed by the IG to curb the senseless killings, was leading the parade to bury the ‘fallen soldier’.

Another kingpin in the line of untouchables was the former Chairman of the Edo State Task Force on the Vandalism of Pipelines, Mr Osakpanwa Eriyo.

His cup only became full when Eriyo, who was also rewarded with collecting levies in all motor parks and markets in Oredo Local Government Area, physically assaulted one of the sons of the Oba of Benin, Prince Ekpen Erediauwa, in a public forum.

Eriyo, who was then also the Chairman Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, Edo State chapter, was immediately relieved of his duties, following the public outcry while the Oba’s chiefs publicly placed a curse on him.

Before then, Chief Osamede Adun, alias Bob Izua, another fearsome figure held sway as the sole revenue collector before the ouster of the PDP government and was thereafter replaced by Eriyo.

Another part of the official complicity in the activities of the cultists was when the traditional institution, the police and indeed the state government sent representatives to a meeting of the cultists last year. The summit was purportedly to find a solution to the activity of the cultists.

The action drew several flaks from the public which saw the representation of the traditional institution, the police and government as an endorsement of the cults.

Fraternities represented at the summit under the Rainbow Consolidated Forum were the Green Circuit (a.k.a Maphites), Norsemen (aka Vikings), Eiye confraternity, Family Fraternity of Nigeria and Avarian Organization of Nigeria.

But the Edo State Government had always expressed frustration over the prosecution of suspected cultists.

The government says the lack of witnesses to testify against the suspects and the problems of law enforcement have been serious challenges militating against the effective prosecution of suspects.

Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Henry Idahagbon, who was reacting to the call by some youths in the state for a law prescribing death sentence for cult offences, said the problem was not with the penalty but effective prosecution.

He said: “We already have very stringent laws against cultism in our society, but the problem is that of law enforcement, problem of identifying who these cultists are, the problem of arresting them and subsequent prosecution.

“So, I do not think the issue is one that invites capital punishment. The issue is that of law enforcement. Section 4 sub section 1H of the Secret Cult Provision Law of 2000 in Edo State gives a maximum punishment of 21 years.

“Anybody who belongs to a secret cult or is found in possession of the paraphernalia of a secret cult, for me that is a sufficient punishment”.

But with Monday’s public parade of some of the kingpins by the police, residents of the state are beginning to heave a sigh of relief that the scourge that has killed several persons this year might finally be on the way to extinction.

Emmanuel Ojukwu, commissioner and police spokesman, said that the suspects were being interrogated for their conspiratorial involvement in the murder of about 10 Nigerians this year alone.

-Nigeria Times