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Cult War In Edo - $1 Billion Lost Annually - Gov Okpebholo
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edo state governor Monday oppolo has
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called for more stakeholders supports
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and actions towards ending secret cult
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related killings and other organized
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violent crimes in the state stating that
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the aged long secret cult war in the
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south south state of Nigeria has driven
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away a lot of investors and as such Edo
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state has been at a loss of $1 billion
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every year with statistics according to
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the governor showing that the natives of
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Edeto state top the list of the highest
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diaspora remittances in Nigeria but over
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95% of the natives divert the funds to
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other states to avoid secret cult
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violence in the state also known as the
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heartbeat of the nation governor Monday
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Ovolo made through the office of the
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chief press secretary to governor Freda
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in a statement issued on Wednesday
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according to the statement the Edeto
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state governor Senator Mandevolo has
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expressed deep concerns over the adverse
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impacts of long years of cultism on the
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state's economy particularly the loss of
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lives and the loss of over $1 billion
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worth of potential investments annually
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these acts of violence predominantly
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driven by clashes among rival cult
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groups have not only led to tragic loss
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of lives and property but have also
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discouraged investments and tourism
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ultimately slowing economic growth the
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chief press secretary to the governor
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Fred Ichua stated that the high spate of
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cult related violence in the last 5
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years long before Governor Opolo assumed
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office has caused substantial
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disruptions to economic activities as
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investors and business owners
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increasingly grew wary of the security
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situation what we have witnessed in Edo
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was more than a threat to public peace
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it was a significant drain on our
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economic potential according to
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statistics by the diaspora commission
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Edo state tops the list of states with
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the highest remittance from the diaspora
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however 95% of the repatriated funds
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ended up in different states because of
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cultism and other violent crimes as our
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people in the diaspora were scared of
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coming home to invest this loss in
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disposable income closure of businesses
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and decline in tourism severely impacted
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the state's business climate Ishua said
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he noted that the state's critical
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infrastructure and commercial centers
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were also affected with some businesses
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forced to shut down temporarily or
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permanently owing to security concerns
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the fear of violence also deterred
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potential visitors resulting in a
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downturn in hospitality transportation
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and other tourism related sectors ichua
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said the narrative has however changed
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since Governor Okevolo declared a total
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war on cult related violence in Edo
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state he said the efforts of
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