Judges and legal practitioners in Edo State have thrown their weight behind Governor Monday Okpebholo’s intensified campaign against cultism and kidnapping, declaring their full support for the administration’s ongoing security reforms.

The endorsement came during a high-level meeting held on Tuesday at the Government House in Benin City, where Governor Okpebholo received the Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa, and a delegation of judges and legal professionals.

Speaking at the meeting, Governor Okpebholo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to combating rising insecurity in the state, emphasizing the urgent need for continued collaboration between the executive and judicial arms of government.

“There is a fight against cultism, and I am taking it very seriously. I need your cooperation. These crimes are a major setback to our economic development. We must bring them down to the barest minimum so we can feel safe again, our children can invest here, and their investments will be protected,” the Governor said.

He praised the cordial relationship between both arms of government, noting that the judiciary has been swift and supportive whenever legal counsel was required.

The meeting highlighted the state government’s recent legislative reforms, including the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2025, and the Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law, 2025. The laws impose tough penalties such as a 10-year mandatory jail term for harboring cultists, 21 years for cultists who cause injury or damage, and the death penalty for kidnappers where a victim dies.

In response to concerns raised by Chief Judge Okungbowa about staff shortages within the judiciary, Governor Okpebholo pledged to prioritize the recruitment of additional judicial personnel, acknowledging the importance of a well-resourced judiciary in ensuring the swift prosecution of criminal cases.

Chief Judge Okungbowa, who led a delegation of judicial officers to the meeting, noted that several experienced professionals had left the system in pursuit of better opportunities abroad, stressing the need for institutional support to sustain the judicial sector.

The gathering ended with a reaffirmation of a united stance between the executive and judiciary to confront criminality in the state and ensure a safe, just, and peaceful Edo for all residents.