Worried by the spate of insecurity in Edo State and Nigeria at large, Benin traditional Priests and Priestesses and physicians (Ewaise), on Thursday laid deadly curses against violent crimes in the state and Nigeria.

The Guardian recalled that the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, had on June 23, 2026, summoned the traditionalists and directed them to prepare their spiritual arsenal and come back to lay curses on criminal elements in the state and Nigeria.

 

The Oba during the summon directed the traditional worshippers of various classifications in Benin to revert to the ancient traditional ways of resolving the security challenges in the state.

 

Thursday’s spiritual exercise which is meant to complement the effort of governments in tackling the menace of insecurity, began with a procession from the Oba palace main playground to the gate.

 

Decked in their regalia and traditional spiritual weapons, the worshippers converged at the main entrance of the Oba of Benin palace where they poured libations on the items and made highly-embedded propitiation and invoked ancestral spirits to bear witness against those seeking to destabilise the peace of Edo State.

 

The event also featured fortification of the land against any invasion by bandits and other criminal elements. The traditional worshipers also prayed for the well-being of people who seek the good and development of Edo State and Nigeria.

 

Speaking in an interview, the head of Ewaise palace group head, Chief Osemwonta Iguezigbon and the Chief Priest of Ayelala deity, Clement Edegbe, expressed optimism that the move will end the menace of violent crimes and their collaborators.

 

“A lot of things have been going wrong in the Benin. Some people are no longer respecting elders. There have been a lot of kidnappings and others. Our aim is to put an end to all these,” Chief Edegbe said.

 

On his part, Chief Iguezigbon said: “What happened today was directed by the Oba of Benin, considering what is happening not only in Edo State, but also in Nigeria. Our Oba thought is wise to put a stop to it”.

 

Chief Isaac Oghafua Ogiemwense Oghafua (the Oyeoba of Benin), said the essence of the spiritual assignment is to fortify the land against insecurity in a traditional way”.

 

On their part, Priestess Constance Eguavoen, commended Oba Ewuare’s resolve for deploying ancient rituals and spiritual forces against criminality.