A large gathering of diviners, palace chiefs, and royals convened at the Benin Palace at dawn to perform a ritual aimed at curbing rising insecurity. Under the direction of the Oba of Benin, these spiritual leaders invoked curses upon kidnappers, cultists, and bandits currently threatening the peace of the kingdom and the wider nation.
Participants dressed in red and white performed traditional rites, including chanting, dancing, and burning sacrificial items at the palace gate. The ceremony was intended to serve as a spiritual fortification of the land and a complement to state-led security efforts. Palace officials, including Chief Osemwonta Iguezigbon and Chief Isaac Oghafua Ogiemwense, stated that the action was a necessary response to the escalation of violence, murders, and abductions disrupting local life, such as farming.
The Chief Priest of the Ayelala deity, Clement Edegbe Ighodaro, joined other participants in declaring that those who foster destruction in Edo State would now face the consequences of the invoked spiritual forces. Princess Eyinemawin Igbinegie added that the community relies on the guidance of their ancestors to protect the region from harm.
Roy Oribhabor, a community activist, supported the initiative, noting that the palace has successfully utilized similar traditional methods in the past to combat issues like human trafficking. He argued that addressing the spiritual dimension of the crisis is essential, asserting that those who continue to engage in criminal acts will ultimately face retribution from the deities.
