Edo State Special Security Squad, ESSS, has raised the alarm over an alleged plan by suspected cultists to instigate violence during the August 16, 2025, senatorial and House of Representatives by-elections in the state.
The agency warned cultists involved in the plot, along with other criminal elements, to abandon such plans, stressing that all security agencies in the state would be fully mobilised to ensure the elections are conducted peacefully.
Coordinator of the ESSS, Ameloemen Noah, issued the warning on Friday during a security sweep across Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts, aimed at dismantling cult networks and arresting their leaders.
“We have credible intelligence that certain cult groups are mobilising to trigger unrest before, during, and after the polls,” Noah said.
“Let it be clear: our response will be swift and uncompromising. This is not a political issue, it is about protecting the people of Edo State.
“Parents and guardians must caution their children not to be used by these criminal elements, because anyone apprehended will face the full weight of the law,” he added.
The crackdown in Edo Central covered strategic areas such as the Ojuromi Modern Market in Uromi, as well as Ekpoma, Irrua, and surrounding communities.
In Edo North, security operatives moved through Warake, Iyeki Road, Angle 90, and the Auchi Polytechnic campus.
Noah reiterated the agency’s commitment to safeguarding the electoral process, warning that no group would be allowed to intimidate voters or compromise public order.
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