News
Okpebholo Grants Amnesty To Over 500 Edo Repentant Cultists
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has declared that he would not spare even his own son if he became involved in cultism or kidnapping, warning that his administration would not tolerate criminality in the state.
Okpebholo stated this on Monday in Benin during a mass renunciation and denunciation of cultism organised by the Edo State Special Security Squad (ESSSS), where more than 500 members of various cult groups publicly renounced their membership and were granted amnesty.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the governor said he had the support of President Bola Tinubu and security agencies in his efforts to tackle cultism, kidnapping and other criminal activities in Edo.
“If there is one thing that Mr President is happy about, it’s making Edo free of criminality,” he said.
Okpebholo stressed that protecting residents was his primary responsibility and that nobody would be exempt from the law, regardless of their relationship with him.
“My duty is very clear. The oath I took is to protect the people of Edo. This I must carry out without fear or favour of anybody. Even if that person is my child, I won’t know you at that moment,” he said.
The governor warned those involved in criminal activities that they would find no hiding place in the state.
“Those who think they can do it, let them know that there is no hiding place for criminality in Edo State,” he added.
Earlier, the Coordinator of ESSSS, Naoh Idemudia, said the security outfit had recorded significant achievements in supporting the state government’s efforts to combat insecurity since its inauguration.
Idemudia attributed the progress to the governor’s support and political will, saying the squad had adopted a different approach to crime prevention and complemented the work of conventional security agencies in protecting lives and property.
He commended Okpebholo for providing the platform and backing needed for the outfit to carry out its responsibilities.
Also speaking, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, urged youths involved in cultism to abandon the practice, warning that it often leads to destruction and death.
Quoting Proverbs 16:25 of the Bible, Daaor said cultism might appear attractive to young people initially but could ultimately destroy their lives and aspirations.
He said many youths had lost their lives and futures after joining cult groups, adding that the amnesty programme offered beneficiaries an opportunity to change their ways and rebuild their lives.
The police commissioner commended Okpebholo for the initiative, describing it as evidence of the governor’s concern for the future of Edo youths.
According to Daaor, the programme reflects an effort to prevent young people from following a path that could endanger their lives and undermine the state’s future.
He urged the beneficiaries to take the opportunity seriously and avoid returning to cultism or criminal activities.
“Amnesty may be coming from you, but it’s one of those branches of the mercies of God that God is extending,” Daaor said, urging the beneficiaries not to treat the opportunity lightly.
News
Okada Thief Impersonating Police Inspector Arrested
A suspected motorcycle thief allegedly impersonating a police inspector has been arrested in Adamawa State.
The state Police Command said 36-year-old Habila Ibrahim was arrested over an alleged attempt to steal a motorcycle and impersonate a police inspector in Girei Local Government Area.
The Command said: “On 10th October 2026, operatives of Girei Divisional Police Headquarters, while on crime-prevention patrol along the Girei–Yola Road, responded to a distress call and intercepted the suspect while attempting to steal a Boxer motorcycle belonging to Alhaji Musa of Wuro Dole, Girei.”
In a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, the Command said one complete police uniform and a master key suspected to have been used for motorcycle theft were recovered from the suspect.
“During initial interrogation, he identified himself as Inspector Yakubu Yusuf, claiming to be attached to the Border Patrol Unit at the Sahuda–Cameroon border, in an attempt to evade arrest. He was found in possession of a fake police warrant card and a complete police uniform,” the statement said.
The police added that further investigation revealed that the suspect’s real identity was Habila Ibrahim, reportedly from Blue House, Kasuwan Gada, Vimtim, Mubi North Local Government Area.
“He is suspected to have been involved in motorcycle theft and impersonating security personnel to facilitate theft and defraud members of the public within Girei, Mubi North and Mubi South Local Government Areas,” the statement added.
The Command said the suspect would remain in police custody and be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
News
Police Arrest 4 Cultists, Recover Locally Made Gun In Lagos
Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspected cultists allegedly terrorising the Lekki, Ajah and Elemoro areas of the state.
The suspects were apprehended between October 2 and 9, 2026 following intelligence received by police operatives, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi.
The arrested suspects were identified as Arisekola Ojo, 32, Oluwatobi Oyewole, 29, Oluwaseyi Odunewu, 32 and Olumagba Ifatope, 29. They are being investigated over alleged conspiracy and membership of an unlawful society.
The police said investigations led to the recovery of a locally made cut-to-size gun during a search of Odunewu’s residence, following information obtained from the suspects.
According to the command, the suspects have made statements considered useful to the investigation, while efforts are ongoing to track down other individuals allegedly connected to the crimes and recover additional firearms.
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Tijani Fatai, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling cult groups and other criminal networks operating across the state.
Fatai warned those involved in cultism and other criminal activities to desist or face the full consequences of the law. He also urged residents to provide the police with credible and timely information to help improve security in their communities.
News
Attacks: Catholic Church Shuts Schools, Hospitals In Benue
The Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Benue State, has ordered the suspension of church institutions, including schools and hospitals, in Ihugh, Vandeikya Local Government Area, LGA, over repeated attacks, arson, burglary and alleged harassment of its personnel.
The affected institutions are St Winifred Secondary School, St Winifred Nursery and Primary School, St Thomas Hospital, including Salus Mind Care Center and its chaplaincy, and St Winifred Parish.
The Diocese also ordered the withdrawal of priests, Reverend Sisters, teachers, medical personnel and other workers from the institutions, effective October 12, 2026, until further notice.
Ihugh is the hometown of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The decision was contained in a pastoral letter and decree signed by the Bishop, Most Rev. William Avenya, and the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Marcellinus Wende.
The Diocese said the decision followed repeated attacks, including the burning of St Winifred Secondary School students’ hostels on October 28, 2025; May 10; May 15; and October 11, 2026.
In the letter, it stated: “Over a considerable period, the Catholic institutions in Ihugh have suffered repeated disturbances, attacks and acts of destruction.
“Among these were the recent burning down of the students’ hostels of St Winifred Secondary School, Hugh, on October 28th, 2025; May 10th, 2026; May 15th, 2026; and October 11th, 2026, acts that have destroyed the shelter of young people entrusted to our care, wiped out the labour and sacrifices of many years, and placed the lives and safety of students, teachers, and staff in grave danger.”
It also cited persistent burglaries at St Winifred Parish and criminal incidents at St Thomas Hospital.
The Diocese recalled that during the hospital’s reopening on June 21, 2024, some residents allegedly displayed placards and chanted slogans demanding the withdrawal of the Reverend Sisters.
“The persistent burning down of St Winifred Secondary School students’ hostels was not an isolated event. The consistent burglary issues in St Winifred Parish, Ihugh, the repeated criminal incidents at St Thomas Hospital, Ihugh, and the hooliganism witnessed during the time of the reopening of St Thomas’ Hospital, Ihugh, on 21st June, 2024, wherein the people of Ihugh openly projected placards and chanting slogans that ‘They no longer want the Reverend Sisters to work in Ihugh’,” the letter stated.
It described the incidents as “a systemic pattern of hostility and destruction directed at church-owned properties, alongside arson and harassment.” Each incident has left behind fear, loss and uncertainty among those who serve and are served by the Church.”
Lamenting that its institutions, established to serve the public, had repeatedly been targeted, it said, “The Church exists to bring life. Our schools, hospital and parish in Ihugh were established for the good of all, irrespective of creed or origin. It is therefore a source of profound grief that works meant for the common good have repeatedly become targets.”
The Diocese said it had engaged the host community, traditional rulers, elders and security authorities in efforts to resolve the crisis.
“The Church does not take the path of withdrawal lightly, nor in haste. The Lord instructs us to be peacemakers, and we have laboured to be so. At every stage we sought dialogue rather than confrontation and reconciliation rather than recrimination.
“The Diocese has met with the host community, engaged the traditional rulers and elders of the land, and brought these grievances before the relevant civil and security authorities, all in the hope of finding a just and lasting peace.
“We have listened, we have appealed, and we have waited patiently. Sadly, these sincere efforts have not yielded the peace, security and guarantees that the continued presence of our institutions requires.”
The Diocese directed the withdrawal of all pastoral and other personnel from the institutions and warned that nobody could resume duties in its name in Ihugh without the Bishop’s written authorisation.
It said students would be assisted to continue their education in other Catholic schools, while patients at St Thomas Hospital would be referred to other health facilities.
The Diocese also declared Friday, October 23, 2026, a day of prayer and fasting for reconciliation. “We invite all the faithful of the Diocese to a season of earnest prayer and penance for the restoration of peace in Ihugh and in all our communities,” the letter stated.
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