0:00
in apparent anger Edo state government
0:02
under the leadership of Governor
0:04
Mandebolo has issued a serious warning
0:07
with a strong message sent to the
0:08
president of the neolack movement of
0:11
Africa NBM Olarogunakor that the Edeto
0:14
state government has started
0:16
consultations to enable it take more
0:19
appropriate legal action against the
0:21
neolac movement saying the international
0:24
headquarters or secretariat of the
0:26
movement situated at a magba area in
0:29
Benin city that was demolished last
0:31
month by the state government has been
0:33
an enclave used for planning and
0:35
execution of secret cult related
0:37
killings by members of the neolack
0:39
movement the governor also referred to
0:42
and described as black ax secret cult
0:44
probably expressing more anger that the
0:47
leadership and members of the neolack
0:49
movement had the courage to come out
0:51
publicly to identify themselves with the
0:53
demolished building the governor said
0:55
they will be made to face prosecution
0:57
this the national president of the
0:59
neolack movement holaruna while speaking
1:03
in reaction to the demolished building
1:05
on arise news TV program said the
1:08
movement is not black axe emphasizing
1:11
that black axe is a criminal
1:12
organization while the neolack movement
1:15
is a social cultural organization that
1:17
promote and engage in humanitarian
1:20
services the neolack movement earlier in
1:23
a statement jointly issued by Olarogon
1:26
Kakor and Chief Kelvin Agroo national
1:28
president and secretary respectively the
1:31
body condemned the action of Edo state
1:33
government describing the demolition of
1:35
their international headquarters as
1:37
unconstitutional and ultravia's decision
1:40
that contradicted provisions of the
1:42
constitution of federal republic of
1:44
Nigeria considering the fact that the
1:46
organization was a duly registered
1:48
entity according to the body the
1:51
provisions of section 7 of the secret
1:53
cult and similar activities prohibition
1:57
2025 which the Edeto state government
2:00
relied upon to carry out the demolition
2:03
contravene the provisions of the
2:04
constitution as contained in sections 36
2:08
40 42 43 and 44 of the
2:13
CFR199 as amended as section 7 of the
2:16
secret cult and similar activities
2:21
2025 the statement read in part "NBM of
2:24
Africa is a registered non-governmental
2:26
organization that carries out
2:28
humanitarian services the organization
2:32
also protects preserves and promotes
2:34
African culture it was founded under the
2:37
principles of pan-Africanism on the 16th
2:40
of October 1977 and registered as a
2:43
non-governmental organization under part
2:46
C of Karma on the 24th of February 1994
2:49
with registration number
2:53
7,729 the organization has over 200
2:56
branches all in Nigeria and the diaspora
3:00
it has its international secretariat at
3:02
a magba Benin city Edo state the
3:06
international secretariat which was
3:08
built over a period of time and
3:10
completed in the year 2022 comprises a
3:13
2,000 capacity event center a 20 room
3:16
accommodation facility fully furnished
3:18
offices a skill acquisition center and
3:21
is fully airond conditioned the
3:24
secretariat has been functioning with a
3:26
250 KVA generator to power the entire
3:30
facility the amphitheater is a
3:32
state-of-the-art facility the Edeto
3:34
state government is a beneficiary of the
3:37
organization's humanitarian and
3:38
charitable services in February 2025 the
3:43
organization donated school desks chairs
3:47
doors windows and writing materials to
3:50
12 primary and secondary schools
3:52
recommended by the Edeto state
3:54
government the schools and pupils are
3:56
still reeling from the benefits of the
3:58
humanitarian gesture of the organization
4:01
the NBM stated the neolack movement
4:04
stated reacting on Monday the Edeto
4:07
state governor Monday ovolo through the
4:10
office of the chief press secretary
4:12
demanded the group to make available the
4:14
schools it claimed it renovated and gave
4:16
the donated educational materials and
4:19
the letter of approval given to the
4:21
movement to perform such humanitarian
4:23
services in quote the governor said "The
4:27
Edo state government has issued a strong
4:29
warning and has commenced necessary
4:31
legal consultations towards taking a
4:34
decisive legal action against the neolac
4:37
movement also known as black acts over
4:39
the recent spate of killings and
4:41
cultreated violence in Edeto state this
4:44
decision is premised on public admission
4:46
by self-aclaimed leaders of the group
4:49
who have openly identified themselves
4:51
and condemned the lawful demolition of a
4:53
building linked to their activities by
4:56
publicly aligning themselves with the
4:58
structure and its usage they have
5:00
confirmed their association with the
5:02
actions coordinated from the premises
5:04
thus paving the way for lawful
5:06
prosecution the building in question was
5:09
not just a regular structure it was a
5:11
hub for planning and executing violent
5:13
attacks across Benin metropolis and
5:15
other parts of Edeto state no
5:18
responsible government will watch
5:20
helplessly as criminal enclaves flourish
5:22
under its watch the demolition of that
5:25
property was a direct response to
5:27
actionable intelligence and it was
5:29
carried out in line with the provisions
5:31
of the anti-cultism law duly passed by
5:33
the Edo State House of Assembly in
5:36
response to recent claims by the group
5:38
that they have renovated six public
5:40
schools in Edeto state since Senator
5:42
Monday assumed office as executive
5:45
governor the government demands a full
5:47
disclosure the group must without delay
5:51
publicly list the names and locations of
5:53
the schools allegedly renovated provide
5:56
documented proof of the said renovations
5:58
and present the official letter of
6:00
approval or partnership granted by the
6:02
Edeto state government authorizing such
6:04
actions failure to do so will result in
6:07
immediate legal action for defamation
6:10
misrepresentation and unauthorized
6:12
interference in public infrastructure to
6:15
further entrench law and order the state
6:18
government will soon commence the
6:19
development of a divisional police
6:21
station on the parcel of land where the
6:23
demolished cult linked structure once
6:25
stood this permanent security presence
6:28
will serve as a deterrent and protect
6:30
law-abiding citizens and residents in
6:32
the area more demolitions of buildings
6:35
and properties linked to cultists and
6:37
the criminal networks will follow in the
6:39
coming days the Okavololed
6:42
administration relying on the existing
6:44
anti-ulttism legislation remains
6:47
unwavering in its resolve to sanitize
6:49
Edeto state of all forms of cultism as
6:52
the chief security officer of the state
6:54
Governor Ovolo will not sit back and
6:57
watch innocent citizens killed by
6:58
criminal gangs hiding under the guise of
7:01
cult groups it is the governor's sworn
7:03
responsibility to protect lives and
7:06
property and he is committed to
7:07
executing that mandate decisively for
7:10
the avoidance of doubt governor Ovolo
7:13
has no affiliation past present or
7:16
future with any cult group or
7:19
clandestine organization he remains
7:22
neutral and committed solely to the
7:23
welfare and safety of the people of
7:25
Edeto state any such group found
7:28
operating within the state will be
7:30
dismantled and its members will be
7:32
arrested and prosecuted without
7:34
hesitation let it be made unequivocally
7:37
clear Edo state is not and will never be
7:40
a safe haven for cultists anyone
7:43
involved in cult related activities is
7:45
advised to cease and desist or relocate
7:48
elsewhere as long as Senator Mandevolo
7:51
remains the executive governor Edo will
7:54
be a hostile ground for cultism and all
7:57
manifestations the anti-ulttism law
7:59
remains in full effect and will continue
8:01
to be enforced the OPO administration
8:05
will stop at nothing to rid Edo state of
8:07
those who threaten peace security and
8:10
the sanctity of human life the governor
8:12
stated as contained in the press release
8:15
issued and made available by Freda the
8:18
chief press secretary to the Edeto state
8:20
governor on Monday the 12th of May 2025
8:24
it would be recalled that we had
8:26
reported that the Edeto State Police
8:28
Command of Nigeria Police Force has
8:30
confirmed the arrest of 95 persons in
8:32
connection with the killing of more than
8:34
15 people between April 25th 2025 and
8:38
now in the renewed deadly and bloody
8:40
apparent supremacy secret cult war in
8:42
the state among members of the Black Axe
8:45
Conraternity aka aa MafI confraternity
8:48
aka great men and I confraternity aka
8:52
which started with the killing of a
8:54
physiootherapist simply identified as
8:57
Alex and another individual at the
8:59
University of Benin Teaching Hospital
9:02
UBTHback Gate Boo in Benin with the
9:05
Edeto state government led by Governor
9:07
Monday Ovolo launching a retaliatory war
9:11
against businesses and individuals
9:13
allegedly aiding secret cult killings in
9:16
the state thus sealed off at a turno
9:18
hotel planned to demolish the hotel owed
9:21
by people's democratic party PDP
9:24
chieftain honorable Matthew Idrawin who
9:27
was the director general of Asan Aier
9:29
campaign organization in the last
9:31
governorship election in the state on
9:34
the ground that a particular secret cult
9:36
group members gathered at the eterno
9:38
hotel to plan their recent killings in
9:40
the state and in addition the Edeto
9:43
state governor also sealed off and
9:45
marked a residential building for
9:46
demolition also owned by a PDP chieftain
9:56
Anuani bringing you the news in a more
