The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has summoned all traditional priests, priestesses and native doctors across the seven local government areas that make up the Benin Kingdom over the worsening security situation in Edo State.
The summons, which was announced in a statement issued recently from the Palace of the Oba of Benin and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the monarch, is coming on the heels of increasing cases of kidnapping, cult killings, armed robbery and ritual-related crimes reported in parts of Edo South, Edo Central and Edo North in recent weeks.
According to the Palace, the meeting, which was held at the Ugha Ozolua Hall within the Oba’s Palace, was presided over by the revered monarch himself and was mandatory for all heads of traditional shrines, herbalists and custodians of indigenous spiritual practices loyal to the Benin throne.
The statement said the Oba was deeply worried over the spate of insecurity that has led to loss of lives, displacement of farmers and palpable fear among residents, despite efforts by security agencies and the state government to contain the menace.
“The Palace wishes to inform all Enigie, Edionwere, Ikao, Igie Ohen and traditional priests and native doctors that His Royal Majesty has summoned an emergency spiritual meeting over the rising insecurity in Edo State,” the statement read in part.
“His Royal Majesty is concerned that evil doers are hiding under the cover of darkness to perpetrate heinous crimes against innocent citizens. The Benin throne, as custodian of tradition, cannot fold its arms while our land is desecrated.”
Palace sources disclosed that the monarch intends to invoke age-long traditional oaths and spiritual sanctions against perpetrators of kidnapping, cultism and bloodshed and to deploy indigenous security mechanisms to complement conventional policing.
It was further gathered that the traditional priests are expected to perform rites aimed at exposing criminals and restoring peace to troubled communities, particularly along the Benin-Auchi Road, Benin-Lagos Expressway and Edo border communities where kidnapping has been rampant.
Reacting to the development, some residents of Benin City commended the Oba for the intervention, noting that traditional institutions still command great influence and reverence among the people.
Mr. Osaro Igbinoba, a community leader in Oredo, said, “What the Oba has done is timely. When the traditional oath is invoked, even the most hardened criminals tremble. We believe this move will help to fish out the evil ones in our midst.”
Meanwhile, security stakeholders have also welcomed the palace’s intervention, describing it as a holistic approach to tackling insecurity that blends modern security architecture with traditional systems.
Efforts to get reaction from the Edo State Police Command were unsuccessful as of press time, but the state government had earlier reiterated its commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders, including traditional institutions to restore lasting peace to the state.
