Attack on soldiers: Edo Govt begin tough operation

The Edo Government claims that measures to expel criminal organizations and “Okaigheles,” or youth leaders, from the state have been finalized.

The state government responded on Sunday to the recent criminal and cultist attack on soldiers in the Okomu village.

Speaking to injured troops and a police officer shot by suspected cultists at the Military Base Hospital in Benin, Chris Nehikhare, the State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, gave a speech.

Recall that on June 7, suspected cultists opened fire on two soldiers and a police officer in the Okomu community in the Ovia South West Local Government Area of the state.

Nehikhare promised that the Military Base Hospital’s wounded military officers would not have to worry about paying for their care since the Edo Government would help.

Nehikhare revealed that Governor Godwin Obaseki regretted the attack on military personnel. He also revealed that a team headed by the Director of State Security, or DSS, had been established to battle cult groups in the state.

“It is not right in any way for the military to be attacked in any community in Edo. A few weeks ago, we were all aware of what happened in our neighbouring Delta, where no fewer than 20 soldiers were killed by some youths.

“In Edo, we have a bad case of cultism and what we also call Okaigheles (youth leaders) in Benin and across Edo South Senatorial District.

“The data available to us provided to the State Security Council has shown that these people are mostly responsible for the threat to the security in Edo.

“That is why this group of people were banned and a taskforce set up to neutralise their activities.’’

The commissioner claimed that although the governor had banned the Okaigheles, some had advised them to disregard the order.

There can only be one government at a time, in his opinion.

He expressed sadness about the outlawed group’s sudden confidence to attack soldiers in the Okomu forest.

“One of the soldiers is on the bed in critical condition and two soldiers were badly injured.

“The gun boat they were in were destroyed and riddled with bullets; this is happening in Edo.

“We do not want a situation where we will be losing soldiers to civilians or to reckless and dangerous cult groups.’’

The commissioner pleaded with leaders in Edo South to rein in their children and the people that they had armed one way or the other.

“We have come to quickly visit the wounded officers and the Army to assure them that Edo Government will not tolerate this untoward behavior.

“We don’t want what happened in Odi community in Bayelsa to happen here in Edo or a repeat of what happened recently in Delta to happen here.

“It is a serious matter and all Edo people, irrespective of political affiliations, must support the government in this fight against cultism and killings going on.

“Since January to date, we have lost no fewer than 150 people in cult related violence,’’ he said.

He complimented the Army as a law-abiding organization that refrained from enforcing its laws.

He commended the Army as a law-abiding organization that refrained from enforcing its laws.

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