Benin City – The Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, RT. Hon. Marcus Onobun on Monday reaffirmed the need to strengthen the existing law criminalising cultism and cultism related activities in the state with a view to addressing the spates of cult killings across the state.
He made the disclosure when he received members of the Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOSCO) who were on a campaign protest to the Assembly complex to condemn recent cult killings across the state.
Addressing the group, the Speaker said though the House had earlier passed laws criminalising cultism in the state, however, there is urgent need for the anti-cultism law to be strengthened with more punitive measures in order to address the incessant violent killings associated with the menace of cultism in the state.
He further said the leadership of the House would meet to deliberate on the issue and thereafter invite security agencies for a brief on efforts put in place to address the incessant cult killings in the state.
Earlier, the interim Tech Secretary of EDOSCO, Comrade Austin Enabulele said the campaign rally to the Assembly complex was aimed at appealing to the House to help strengthen laws that would ensure the prosecution of cultists for every cultism related activities which has brought pains and agony to many families.
Meanwhile, a former Coordinator-General of EDOSCO, Omobude Agho also urged the House to partner with the group in assisting and giving the necessary protection to youths willing to renounce their cult membership.
The campaign rally by the group was informed by the recent cult clashes which assumed a worrisome dimension leading to the killing of parents or siblings of suspected cult members by rival cult groups.
The group commenced the campaign on Friday last week following the proliferation of cult related killings across parts of the state.
