Governor Okpebholo Goes Nuclear on Black Axe: Arrest the President Now!
Byline: IDNN South-South Bureau – Justice & Governance Desk
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has unleashed a full-scale crackdown against the Neo Black Movement (NBM)—commonly known as Black Axe—following a bloody wave of cult-related killings and a forged government document scandal.
In a letter to the Inspector-General of Police and DSS Director-General, Okpebholo demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of Olorogun Ese Kakor, the NBM’s national president, for forgery, impersonation, and complicity in public deception.
“This is criminal, deceitful, and a direct assault on the integrity of our government,” the Governor said.
From Cult Base to Crime Scene
The heat started with the demolition of a cult-linked building in Benin City. The government said it had actionable intelligence that the structure was a command base for violence in Edo.
“That property was not just bricks and concrete—it was a killing factory,” said the governor’s spokesperson Fred Itua.
In a twist, leaders of the Neo Black Movement came forward defending the building and even claimed they had renovated six public schools. The government wasn’t buying it.
“Name the schools. Show receipts. Produce letters of partnership. Or prepare for defamation lawsuits,” Itua warned.
Edo State Is Not a Haven for Cults—Okpebholo Declares
Okpebholo doubled down, vowing that Edo would never become a sanctuary for cults or their front organizations.
He announced that a divisional police station will rise on the site of the demolished structure—symbolizing a new era of permanent security presence.
“More demolitions are coming. Cult-linked properties will fall,” he declared.
The state’s anti-cultism law, passed by the Edo House of Assembly, remains in full force, and Okpebholo has signaled he will not hesitate to prosecute anyone, no matter how powerful.
“I have no links to any cult. Never did, never will,” he added, preempting any political smears.
Strategic Message: Kill the Culture of Violence
Edo’s message to cults is now clear:
You’re either out—or going down.
With escalating killings across the state and nationwide concern over cult-linked crime, this aggressive legal and moral stance could become a blueprint for other governors.