Popular comedian Gbadamosi Agbonjor Jonathan, widely known as MC Edo Pikin, has raised alarm over the ongoing wave of cult-related killings in Edo State, especially in the state capital, Benin City.
In an Instagram video making the rounds on social media, MC Edo Pikin estimated that three to five youths are killed every day in Benin City by cultists, stressing that between the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki and the current administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, over 500 youths have been killed by cultists.
“As I speak to you, not less than three to five youths die on a daily basis in Benin City.
They are killing themselves in Benin,” Jonathan said.
Decrying the senseless violence, MC Edo Pikin expressed dismay that the killings are not rooted in any ideological, political, or territorial dispute, but instead driven by cult rivalry and “colour wars.” “We are not fighting for crude oil, we are not fighting for natural resources, we are not fighting over land, we are not fighting against bad governance. They are killing themselves because of colour. Colour, crayon that God created,” he said.
Each cult group identifies with specific colours. The comedian expressed deep frustration over the silence of authorities and the public, noting that the killings have continued unchecked despite repeated appeals to both the government and traditional institutions. “The funniest part is that this has been going on for a long time. From the last administration to this administration, more than 500 youths have been killed over cultism, and nobody is doing anything about it,” he stated. “How many people died in Benue State, and the whole Nigerians stood up. They are killing themselves in Benin.” MC Edo Pikin criticised the lack of national attention on the crisis, claiming that the violence is largely hidden from public discourse outside the state. “To make the matter worse, nobody gets to know about the killings. People are dying every day in Benin, but nobody hears about it except people living in Benin,” he said. “How do you people even hide the news that the whole world doesn’t know that Edo youths want to wipe out themselves from the surface of the earth?” He revealed that even efforts by entertainers and community members to raise awareness have yielded no results. “We have cried to the palace (of Oba of Benin), nothing. We have cried to the Government House, but nothing. I have done skits. My colleagues have done skits. There is nothing we have not done,” he said. He further lamented the spread of violence beyond cult members to innocent residents, noting that individuals are now wrongly tagged and targeted. “Unfortunately, whether you belong to a cult or not; before, people used to say cultists are the ones killing themselves, but now, they are killing innocent people. They will just tag you what you are not,” he explained. “Some of us who are celebrities are even afraid to take pictures with people. Those of us who do not join any cult, people will be calling us and we will be running away, and they will think we are being proud. “We are just avoiding some gathering so that they (cultists) will not tag us to what we don’t know.” MC Edo Pikin criticised the apparent inaction of security forces, despite the presence of major military and police commands in the city. “What is happening? How many people died in Delta State when they summoned security agents, Navy, soldiers, police, Delta State Governor assembled everybody?” he said. “Do you know that Zone 5 (of the Nigeria Police Force) is in Benin City? Do you know that the 4 Mechanized Brigade (of the Nigerian Army) is in Benin City? And they are in charge of Delta and other neighbouring states.” “These people are in Benin. Summon all these security agencies. Summon everybody. Edo youths are dying and nobody is talking about it,” he added. He warned that the worsening insecurity is forcing residents and businesses out of the state. “People’s businesses are crashing down. People who had businesses in Edo have relocated their businesses to other places,” he said. “Those who want to come in and invest are running away. Some people, while going to their villages, they will have to go with eight Mopols.” “Are we in a war zone? Edo has turned into a war zone. Our brothers and sisters abroad no longer come home again,” he said. The comedian said, “Every December, people travel to their states and villages to show their wealth, build houses and companies every year but our people get stuck in Lagos and Abuja. “All of them are now in Lagos. All the Benin youths have run to Lagos. If Lagos is not at peace, will you all run to Lagos? What is happening?” In a passionate appeal, the comedian called on both the state government and traditional authorities to act decisively to end the violence. He said, “We need to blow this out of proportion. We are calling on the government and the traditional council to take action. Our beloved Benin City is going. #SayNoToCultism.” Reacting to the viral video, which has since sparked conversations across social media platforms, with many calling for urgent intervention to address the growing crisis, a TikTok user, Tina Pearl, confirmed that three sons of her neighbour were killed on Thursday at the Ugbowo area of Benin. “Dem kpai my neighbor 3 sons on Thursday for Ugbowo,” she wrote in pidgin language, meaning, “They killed my neighbour’s three sons on Thursday at Ugbowo.” Another TikTok user, J_classic, recalled how he narrowly escaped being killed at the Ring Road area of Benin City on Sunday, saying, “I swear, na God save me from Ring Road yesterday.”
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