By Ihechi Enyinnaya
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has officially signed the revised Secret Cult Prohibition Bill into law, introducing harsher penalties, including a 21-year prison sentence for cultists and their sponsors.
In a statement from the Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Umar Ikhilor, it was revealed that the previous law had been repealed to enforce more stringent punishments for those involved in secret cult activities.
Ikhilor encouraged residents to avoid actions that could disrupt the peace and progress of the state. He explained, “The Edo State Secret Cult (Prohibition Law) 2018 has been repealed by the Edo State House of Assembly. The new law, the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2025, was passed and signed by the Governor on January 24, 2025.”
The new law specifies severe penalties, with Section 5 mandating 21 years of imprisonment for those who financially or materially sponsor secret cults. Section 6 further stipulates a 10-year sentence for individuals who knowingly harbor cult members or allow cult activities to take place on their property.
Additionally, the law mandates the confiscation and demolition of property belonging to individuals who harbor cult members.
The law also specifies severe consequences for cult-related violence. Section 12 states that cultists who engage in violent acts, including assault, injury, or murder, will face 21 years in prison without the option of a fine. In cases of fatal violence, perpetrators could face the death penalty, and their property will be seized and demolished.
Edo State has witnessed numerous casualties and property damage due to cult-related violence, primarily among youths, prompting the need for these tougher legal measures.