The Edo State Administration, led by Governor Monday Okpebholo, has implemented a fresh statute aimed at dismantling clandestine societies and their networks throughout the state.
This advancement was affirmed in a statement released on Wednesday, May 7, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Fred Itua.
The Cult and Associated Activities (Prohibition) Act, 2025, which came into effect on January 24, 2025, marks a significant legislative progress in the struggle against unlawful fraternities.
This statute replaces the earlier 2018 legislation and introduces harsher penalties, broadened definitions, and accountability measures designed to eradicate cult activities not solely from higher education institutions but also from communities, traditional structures, public offices, and the hospitality industry.
Under this new law, all cult organizations—regardless of whether they are recognized, emerging, or functioning under pseudonyms—are completely banned. The legislation acknowledges that cults often change their names and tactics, thereby providing an extensive definition of cultism to include any group that operates in secrecy or promotes violence.
The punishment for affiliation with such a group, whether armed or unarmed, is life imprisonment or a minimum of twenty-one years behind bars. However, the enforcement extends beyond mere affiliation.
The law also penalizes any form of sponsorship or support. Individuals who finance, shelter, or assist cult groups in any way face the same penalties as active members.
This includes traditional leaders, educational administrators, civil servants, and even security personnel who facilitate or endorse cult activities. Offenders not only face incarceration but also risk dismissal or dethronement, emphasizing that no status will protect anyone from the law’s repercussions.
The private sector is also addressed. Property owners who allow cult gatherings on their premises, whether knowingly or unknowingly, face a minimum of ten years in prison and potential demolition of their property. Hotels, bars, and nightclubs are now subject to stricter regulatory scrutiny.
According to the law, establishments that permit cult-related meetings or violent assemblies face up to twenty years in prison and the possibility of confiscation or demolition of their properties.
In an effort to improve oversight, the legislation now mandates all hospitality businesses to register with the Ministry of Commerce and Tourism within a three-month grace period.
Failure to comply will incur monthly fines starting at ₦100,000, escalating to ₦1 million every six months, with possible closure orders for those who remain unregistered for over a year.