Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on cultism and drugs.

The governor made the plea on Thursday in Benin during the launch of the Edo Command and Control Centre.

“There should be a declaration of a national emergency on the usage of harmful drugs and cultism, particularly among the youth in the country,” Governor Obaseki emphasized.

He identified cultism and drug abuse as significant contributors to crimes and criminal activities in the state, stating, “These two key drivers of crimes require national efforts to deal with.”

The ECC launch aims to equip security forces with the latest technology, streamlined communication, and real-time intelligence to address the rising challenges of crime in the state.

Obaseki highlighted the surge in criminal incidents in Edo State between 2017 and 2020, emphasizing the need for urgent and concerted efforts.

The prevalent crimes mentioned included armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, homicide, cultism, and drug abuse.