The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has summoned native doctors, traditional priests, and priestesses to an urgent meeting aimed at addressing the escalating insecurity challenges in Edo State.
The development comes amid growing concerns over kidnapping, cult-related violence, and other criminal activities reported across parts of the state in recent months.
According to a notice from the Benin Traditional Council, the monarch has invited custodians of traditional spiritual practices, including native doctors and shrine priests, to a high-level meeting scheduled to hold at the Oba’s Palace in Benin City.
The meeting is expected to bring together key figures in the traditional institution to deliberate on how indigenous systems can complement ongoing security efforts by government authorities.
The agenda of the meeting is centered on finding collective and culturally rooted responses to insecurity. Palace sources indicate that the initiative reflects the monarch’s concern about the increasing wave of violent crimes affecting communities across Edo State.
The Oba is expected to encourage traditional practitioners to avoid involvement in criminal activities, especially the use of charms, oaths, or rituals that may enable kidnapping, cultism, or other unlawful acts.
Edo State has in recent times witnessed a surge in security challenges, including abductions along major highways, cult-related clashes in urban areas, and reports of ritual-related crimes. These incidents have heightened public anxiety and prompted calls for stronger collaboration between state security agencies and community leaders.
The Benin monarchy has historically played a significant role in maintaining social order and cultural discipline within the region. The latest move by the Oba is seen as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen moral responsibility among traditional practitioners and reinforce their role in promoting peace.
