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The fight against kidnapping and other related crimes took a new
dimension in Benin, the Edo State capital on Thursday, as traditional priests,
herbalists and traditional worshippers gathered at the King’s Square to invoke
curses on kidnappers and other perpetrators of evil acts in the state.

This was at the instance of the Benin traditional ruler, Oba
Erediauwa, who directed that curses be placed on all those involved one way or
the other in any form of criminality in Edo State, as a way of cleansing the
society. The Oba had recently offered to tackle the menace of social vices in
the city through traditional means.

About 60 traditional worshippers gathered at the King’s Square
where they made sacrifices of animals and poured libation over the animals
before placing curses on the kidnappers and other criminals in the land.

The Chief Priest of Benin Kingdom, Nosakhare Isekhure, said the
purpose was to ensure that peace reigns in the land.

“The country has been unstable for some time now as a result of
kidnapping and violent robberies,” he said. “The Benin people are traditionally
not Christians. We are traditionalists. In order to put a stop to the state of
insecurity, we just have to place a curse on them to stop all these activities
that threaten lives and property in Edo State so that there will be peace.
Besides, those who want peace must prepare for war. The Oba has said that for
peace to reign, we must mobilize the most effective tool.”

The Iyase of Benin, Sam Igbe was optimistic that the action of
the traditional worshippers would deter criminals from their evil ways and put
an end to kidnapping that has almost become a daily affair in the land. “We
shall wait and see, but we hope it will put an end to it (kidnapping). But if
they don’t fear themselves, they probably would be sorry for themselves,” he
said.

Seeking legal support

He said efforts were been made to give the action of the
traditionalists a legal backing, as “we are trying to liaise with the state
House of Assembly and the Commissioner for Justice”.

Mr Igbe advised the people to give useful information about
kidnappers and other criminals to the law enforcement officers because “police
are not magicians; they cannot perform without adequate information”.

The chairman of Oredo Local Government Area, Omorogieva Gbajumo,
welcomed the development and described it as an added measure to the efforts of
the police in stamping out criminality from the land.

He told the press that the act was to ensure that peace and
tranquillity reign in the land and also called on both the Christian and Muslim
bodies to organize their own prayers against the evil acts.

Traditional denominations like the Asigidi, Ayelala, Osokpekan and others
participated in the exercise which took them round some major streets in Benin.