{"id":120683,"date":"2025-07-15T20:14:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T19:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=120683"},"modified":"2025-07-15T20:14:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T19:14:23","slug":"edo-comedian-raises-alarm-over-spike-in-cult-related-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/edo-comedian-raises-alarm-over-spike-in-cult-related-violence\/","title":{"rendered":"Edo Comedian Raises Alarm over spike in cult-related violence"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Oscar Okhifo<\/div>\n
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Popular Edo-born comedian, MC Edo Pikin, has expressed grave concern over the ongoing spate of cult-related killings in Benin City, describing the ancient city as a “war zone” plagued by daily violence and bloodshed.<\/div>\n
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In a passionate outcry shared via his social media platform, the comedian, whose real name is Gbadamosi Jonathan, lamented the growing insecurity, warning that the alarming rate of cult clashes has made life unbearable for residents of Edo State\u2019s capital.<\/div>\n
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\u201cBenin City is gradually becoming a war zone. People are being killed every day over senseless cult wars,\u201d he wrote.<\/div>\n
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\u00a0\u201cThis is no longer a joke. We need help before it\u2019s too late.\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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His statement comes amid a wave of cult killings that have rocked the state in recent months, leading to panic among citizens and widespread calls for urgent government intervention.<\/div>\n
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In response, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has declared an all-out war on cultism and vowed to crush those behind the killings.<\/div>\n
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\u00a0In April, Okpebholo directed security agencies to arrest not just cult members but also their sponsors, warning that no one, regardless of political or social status, would be spared.<\/div>\n
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“We are not just going after the foot soldiers; we will go after the masterminds. Anyone caught will face the full wrath of the law,\u201d the governor said in a statement.<\/div>\n
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The situation reached a boiling point earlier this year when clashes between rival groups, Black Axe and Maphite led to the deaths of several individuals, including a medical doctor near the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).<\/div>\n
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The Edo State House of Assembly also recently passed an anti-cultism bill, prescribing up to 21 years in prison for anyone found guilty of belonging to or aiding cult groups and their activities in the State.<\/div>\n
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The law also targets those who harbour, fund, or protect cultists in any form.<\/div>\n
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In November 2024, hundreds of women marched through the streets of the ancient city in a mass protest, mourning loved ones lost to cult violence and demanding lasting security reforms.<\/div>\n
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Despite numerous arrests by the police, including four suspects in Auchi in June, violence has persisted in parts of the State, with residents now calling for community-driven initiatives to complement government efforts.<\/div>\n
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For MC Edo Pikin, the situation is deeply personal. Known for his humorous takes on local life, he now finds himself using his platform to sound the alarm over a crisis threatening to engulf his hometown. He wants the government, parents, community, religious leaders, and other stakeholders to appreciate the urgency of the situation\u00a0before it is too late.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThis has gone beyond entertainment. We are losing our people. The government must act now,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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As security forces intensify their operations, many in Edo State hope the wave of violence will soon subside, to pay the way for the return of normalcy in the city.<\/div>\n
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