Edo State House of Assembly has repealed the Edo State Secret Cult (Prohibition Law) 2018 and replaced it with the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2025.
Gatekeepers News reports that Umar Musa Ikhilor, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) announced this in a statement on Tuesday.
The spokesman noted that the new law aimed at curbing activities of secret cults, which was signed by the state Governor, Monday Okpebholo took effect on January 24, 2025.
According to Ikhilor; the new law imposes “penalties for anyone found guilty of secret cult related offences in the State.”
The statement added, “Section 5 of the Law provides for twenty-one (21) years imprisonment for financial and material sponsors of secret cults.”
“Section 6 of the Law provides for ten (10) years imprisonment for those who knowingly habour members of a secret cult or permit a secret cult meeting or activities to be held in house, building or place over which they have control. In addition to the ten (10) years imprisonment, such persons will have their properties confiscated and demolished by the State Government.”
“Section 12 of the Law clearly states that, “Any person being a cultist under Section 4, who assaults, injures, maims, or kills any person (s) or destroy any property in furtherance of the activities of any Secret Cult, is guilty of an offence and is liable to Twenty-One (21) years imprisonment without an option of fine and in the case of any fatality, the perpetrator (s) shall be liable to death upon conviction and any properties in his name as well as his place of residence shall be confiscated and demolished by the State Government”.”
Ikhilor advised the public to abide by the law and desist from acts inimical to the peace, growth and development of the state.
