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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Benin monarch mobilises traditionalists in offensive against kidnappers

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has mobilized traditionalists, including native doctors and priestesses, to perform rituals against criminals.
  • Traditionalists are ordered to gather on July 10 with their instruments to lay curses on kidnappers and armed robbers operating in Edo State.
  • The monarch stated these actions are to support the government in restoring peace and eradicating social vices, emphasizing that past rituals have been effective.

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has invoked ancient traditions to combat rising crime, ordering native doctors, priestesses of the water goddess, and adherents of various deities to gather on July 10. The purpose is to perform rituals and lay curses on kidnappers, armed robbers, and other criminal elements plaguing his kingdom and Edo State at large.

Today is a great day. I welcome you with the power of our ancestors. Many things that are not supposed to be happening are happening in this state. We have to pray. Those who want to destroy the kingdom will not succeed.

— Oba Ewuare IIAddressing native doctors in his palace about the need for spiritual intervention against crime.

During a meeting with the native doctors in his palace, Oba Ewuare II stressed the urgency of the situation. "Many things that are not supposed to be happening are happening in this state. We have to pray. Those who want to destroy the kingdom will not succeed," he declared. He instructed the traditionalists to bring all their instruments for the ceremony, aiming to cleanse the state of wickedness and restore peace, allowing residents to "have good sleep."

You all know what is happening. The Oba is trying to bring peace. All the bad things are what we want to wipe away. Use all that you have to send all the wicked ones away. So that we can have good sleep.

— Oba Ewuare IIExplaining the purpose of the ritual to eradicate crime and ensure peace.

Speaking through the Akenuwa of Benin, Chief Osaigbovo Osamwonyi, the monarch clarified that these efforts are in support of the state government's security initiatives. "The Oba is trying to bring peace. All the bad things are what we want to wipe away. Use all that you have to send all the wicked ones away," he urged. He noted that the palace had already undertaken significant efforts behind the scenes, and this public ritual is a further step to drive away evil.

Our Oba called us to remove all the wahala in this state. The prayers and actions will work. That is what our forefathers did. It has never failed.

— Chief EgboyeExpressing confidence in the effectiveness of the traditional rituals.

Chief Egboye, representing the traditionalists, affirmed their commitment, stating, "Our Oba called us to remove all the wahala in this state. The prayers and actions will work. That is what our forefathers did. It has never failed." Princess Juliet Ehigiamusoe, the Ohen N’ Ogbeguma N’ Ayen, confirmed their readiness to deploy all necessary elements from both land and river to fulfill the Oba's command, demonstrating a unified front against the escalating insecurity.

We would come out with all things in the river and on the land to carry out the monarch’s order.

— Princess Juliet EhigiamusoeConfirming the traditionalists' readiness to perform the rituals as commanded.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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