Olusegun Ariyo
A violent confrontation between rival cult groups, the Eiye and Maphite confraternities, has left one man dead in Evboyare community, Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Coordinator of the Edo State Government’s Special Security Squad, Idemudia Noah, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday through Governor Monday Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua.
According to Noah, the clash turned bloody and claimed the life of a victim identified as Festus. He revealed that the residence of the alleged Maphite leader, Felix Aigbedion, had been sealed after security intelligence linked him to the violence. Aigbedion has since been declared wanted, with investigators alleging he masterminded the attack, which escalated from a community dispute into cult warfare.
By the time security operatives arrived in Evboyare, the community was reportedly deserted, with homes, vehicles, and personal belongings destroyed. Two locally-made firearms were also recovered from a poultry house believed to have served as a makeshift armoury for the cultists.
The statement disclosed that, acting on intelligence, operatives stormed an unoccupied building in Egbaen, Egor Local Government Area, in the early hours of Wednesday. At the back of the premises, officers discovered a secluded shrine believed to have been used for initiation rites. The house, said to belong to Marvellous Adetarami, contained a white casket and other fetish items associated with cult practices.
The Edo State Government immediately ordered the sealing of the property, stressing that the move stressed its determination to dismantle both the physical and spiritual infrastructure sustaining cultism across the state.
Reaffirming the administration’s stance, Noah said:
“Governor Monday Okpebholo’s government is unwavering in its commitment to rid Edo State of cult-related violence and criminal networks. We have sealed the home of Felix Aigbedion, who was linked to the fatal Evboyare clash, and the Egbaen residence of Marvellous Adetarami, where a shrine was uncovered. These actions are not symbolic; they are clear warnings that clandestine activities will no longer have safe havens in Edo State.”
He added that investigators also uncovered disturbing evidence of extortion during cult initiation processes, including reports of victims being forced to transfer money to cult members. He confirmed that the Police had been fully briefed and prosecutions are underway.
Noah, while issuing a stern warning, urged cult members to renounce their affiliations or leave Edo State, stressing that the government remains committed to securing lives, restoring peace, and creating a safe environment for residents and businesses
