Esan, Edo — Amid solemn chants, firm traditional observance, and a tightly packed gathering in the community square, the Council of Elders of Efandion Community, in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, on 21 June 2025, officially reaffirmed the permanent banishment of Ekaniyere Stephan Herbert.

The elders cited his past involvement in cult-related activities and threats to communal peace as the basis for the longstanding action.

I was present at the hearing, where the atmosphere was heavy with both tradition and finality. Chiefs, elders, observers, and local families stood in silence as Elder James Adane Christian, the Council’s General Secretary, read aloud the final ruling.

“This matter is closed forever,” Elder Christian declared. “There will be no pardon, no further hearing, and no appeal. The protection of Efandion must remain our highest priority.”

Herbert’s First and Only Appeal Rejected After 11 Years
Herbert was originally banished in April 2014 by the same council following allegations of violent cult activities that endangered lives and violated community values. Since then, he has remained in hiding.

On 5 June 2025, after eleven years of silence, Herbert submitted his first and only appeal, pleading for forgiveness and reintegration into the community.

That request was presented during the council meeting and formally read before the gathering. The response from the elders was firm and united: the appeal was unanimously rejected.

“You cannot disappear for eleven years and return with one letter,” one elder commented after the ruling. “Some wounds go too deep.”

Edo State Law Backs the Ruling
The Council’s ruling is backed by the Edo State Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2025, which came into effect on 24 January 2025. The law strengthens the authority of traditional institutions and law enforcement to act decisively against cult-related crimes.

During the hearing, a legal adviser to the Council outlined several key provisions:

Cult sponsors may face up to 21 years in prison.

Anyone who harbors or assists cult activities risks 10 years imprisonment and demolition of the property used.

Cultists involved in injury or murder face life imprisonment or capital punishment, along with property seizure.

“This isn’t just a cultural decision—it is a lawful one,” the adviser told me after the meeting. “The law recognizes the danger and gives communities the power to protect themselves.”


Council Issues Description for Identification:

To support law enforcement and prevent any future contact, the Council also provided a detailed physical description of Herbert:

- Brown eyes

- Three triple tribal marks on each cheek

- Zigzag or chevron-shaped lines along both sides of the abdomen.

Community members were urged to remain vigilant and report any sighting to the appropriate authorities.

“If he is seen anywhere in Efandion or anywhere in Nigeria, he must be reported without delay,” Elder Christian warned. “Anyone found aiding or shielding him will face full consequences.”


Family Member Confirms Years in Hiding:

Shortly after the hearing, I spoke with a relative of Herbert who requested anonymity. The relative confirmed that Herbert has not returned to Efandion since his original banishment in 2014, and that his whereabouts have remained unknown.

“We haven’t seen him in over a decade,” the family member said. “We know what the elders decided today. That door is now closed.”

Part of a Statewide Crackdown
The Council’s ruling aligns with Edo State’s broader crackdown on cultism and organized crime. On 28 May 2025, just weeks before the ruling, Governor Monday Okpebholo personally supervised the demolition of a building in Ogheghe, Benin City, allegedly linked to cult operations, kidnapping, and internet fraud.

“This is only the beginning,” the governor said during the demolition. “Edo State will no longer tolerate criminal safe havens.”


Final Declaration from the Council:

As the hearing ended, the Odionwele stood to make one last statement to the crowd:

“Let no one return here with sympathy or petitions. The land has spoken. This decision shall remain for all time.”