Renewed Cult War Erupts in Edo, Six Feared Dead Amid Fragile Ceasefire

DDM News

The uneasy peace recently brokered in Edo State has been shattered by a fresh wave of cult-related killings in Benin City, resulting in at least six confirmed deaths between last weekend and Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the deadly resurgence involves two rival cult groups, the Maphite and the Black Axe confraternities, who are now embroiled in a renewed supremacy battle across parts of the Benin metropolis.

According to residents and eyewitnesses, the killings occurred in different locations within the city, with each victim ambushed in cold blood by suspected cult members.

Among the victims identified so far are Lucky Okotie, Yoyin, George, Lucky, and Abel. The sixth victim’s name had not been confirmed at the time of filing this report.

One of the victims, George, a mechanic, was reportedly gunned down in front of his workshop along Oza Street, off Sakponba Road, on Monday evening.

That same evening, another individual, Yoyin, was shot dead near Oroghene Street, off Siluko Road, in what appeared to be a coordinated hit.

Another witness recounted how a victim was murdered around Wire Road at about 7:30 p.m., while a separate killing occurred on Tuesday afternoon near Ewah Road.

Tragedy also struck at 3rd East Circular Road, where Lucky was shot and killed in the presence of his family inside their home.

In a separate but related incident, Lucky Okotie, who had stepped out to buy roasted corn in the 2nd West area, was shot and later died due to delays caused by traffic congestion as he was being rushed to the hospital.

A sixth victim was allegedly killed in broad daylight around Textile Mill Road in Benin City on Monday, further escalating fears among residents.

This new wave of violence comes just two months after the Edo State government brokered a fragile ceasefire between warring cult groups.

Governor Monday Okpebholo had launched an aggressive anti-cultism campaign, which included demolishing buildings used as criminal hideouts, arresting cult members, and declaring an all-out war on cult-related violence.

In the wake of these measures, Edo enjoyed a brief period of calm, but the recent killings suggest that the cult factions have not fully disarmed or disengaged.

Last week, a suspected cult member known as Emmanuel Adekhe (a.k.a. “Biggy”) was shot dead, reportedly triggering a series of retaliatory killings, including a triple homicide near a popular brothel on Wire Road.

Despite government efforts and ongoing police operations, the cultists appear unyielding, posing a direct challenge to state authority and threatening the fragile peace of the region.

The Edo State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement.

However, a senior officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed that security personnel are actively pursuing leads to apprehend those behind the violence.

The current crisis underscores the deep-rooted nature of cultism in Edo State, where criminal groups continue to operate with impunity despite public outcry and government crackdowns.

Stakeholders are calling for a more comprehensive strategy that combines law enforcement with youth engagement, education, social reintegration, and community policing to dismantle the allure of cultism.

Until then, residents remain trapped in fear as Edo’s streets, once again,become battlegrounds for deadly rivalries.

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