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.
