A 29-year-old aspiring musician in Edo State has abandoned cult activities and voluntarily handed over a Beretta pistol to security authorities after listening to an anti-cultism message delivered by the Acting Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Blessing Ebhodaghe.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele.
According to the statement, the Zonal Commander of the Edo State Security Corps, Joel Aidamebor, explained that the incident started after Ebhodaghe heard suspicious sounds coming from a school close to his residence.
Aidamebor said the council chairman immediately alerted the Edo State Security Corps, which then informed the police. Security personnel responded to the report, arrested several young men and took them to the police station for questioning.
He added that some of those arrested were later released after investigations.
Following the incident, Ebhodaghe met with the youths and advised them to stay away from cultism, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
The statement said one of the young men later approached the chairman and expressed his desire to leave his cult group behind.
“The chairman immediately informed the Edo State Security Corps and the Divisional Police Officer. The young man then voluntarily surrendered a Beretta pistol in his possession,” the statement read.
According to the statement, the suspect and the firearm were later taken to Benin City, where the pistol was officially handed over to the police.
The statement praised the young man’s decision and encouraged other cult members across Edo State to abandon criminal activities and embrace lawful living.
It also reaffirmed the commitment of the Edo State Government under Governor Monday Okpebholo to fighting cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.
The statement added that Ebhodaghe urged other young people involved in cult groups to follow the same path by giving up crime and choosing a better future.
The former cult member, who said he is pursuing a career in music, stated that he has no regrets about his decision.
“He said he decided to renounce cultism after listening to Ebhodaghe’s message to residents on the dangers of cultism and other social vices during a recent visit to his community,” the statement read.
According to the statement, the chairman’s message made the young man reflect on his lifestyle and decide to change. It added that he first informed a friend of his decision before handing over the Beretta pistol to the authorities.
Explaining why he surrendered the gun instead of selling or giving it away, the statement said, “The young man said he chose not to sell or hand the firearm to anyone because he feared it could be used to commit crimes that might later be traced to him.”
The statement further revealed that Governor Okpebholo encouraged the former cult member to share his experience with other youths and persuade them to abandon cultism.
“He also said Gov. Okpebholo encouraged him to use his experience to persuade other youths to abandon cultism. According to him, the governor also encouraged him after learning that he was pursuing a career in music,” the statement read.
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