BY PATRICK MGBODO
They beat the earth in a rage, venting their angst at the fiends that now dwells among them. Both old and young, men and women, strong and feeble marched through the streets of Issele-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area, to the king’s palace in palpable vexation.
Armed with palm midribs as weapons of spiritual warfare, they sought help from the divine, calling on their ancestors and gods to ward off evil from the land and win the war against insecurity, particularly kidnaping which is ravaging many parts of the country. Regardless of religious dispositions, their fury banged on heaven’s gate, pouring curses on culprits.
Addressing newsmen after the exercise, the traditional ruler of Issele-Uku, HRM Obi Nduka Ezeagwuna explained the significance of the ritual and its expected outcome. He said the event, known as the Ine-Ubi, is used to ward off evil from the community.
‘’In this particular instance, the evil we are targeting is the increasing rate of kidnapping incidences in our community. Of course, this ceremony is very significant because, first, we believe in our customs, we believe in our ancestors and we believe in God the Almighty. Therefore, we are calling on our ancestors and God, asking them to ward off these evils from our community. When we do these things and believe, we know that God and our ancestors will surely answer us and help us ward off these evils from our community’’ he said.
On what prompted them to seek celestial assistance in addressing a mortal crisis, the king explained, ‘’While we, as a community, are collaborating with the relevant security agencies through the local government and the state government, it is also important that we also do the needful by playing our part in complementing the efforts of the government. Everybody has to play his or her role in tackling security challenges’’
Obi Ezeagwuna further reacted to the spate of insecurity and kidnapping in his domain. According to him, ‘’The rate of kidnapping in the community, Aniocha North, across the state and even the nation is on the increase. We know that the state government, through the security agencies is playing its role in tackling the menace. In Issele-Uku, we have had some cases and those cases are what prompted us to carry out this ritual. The truth be told, it is now alarming and this is also part of raising awareness of what is going on in our community.’’
The monarch called on governments at all levels to step up their game, stressing ‘’they have the constitutional right and duty to protect lives and property. Whatever we are doing now is self-help. In as much as we are helping ourselves, the government must step up. I use this opportunity to call on the government to tackle this issue of insecurity head-on’’
While the Issele-Uku people may have gone spiritual to tackle such crimes as kidnapping, instances abound of criminals confessing to using help from diviners, traditionalists and related practitioners. Reacting to such concerns, Obi Ezeagwuna said, ‘’We cannot rule that out and that is why during this exercise. Curses were placed on those are allegedly seen to be assisting those involved in these nefarious activities. Going traditional is a sign that it is a serious matter and whoever is getting involved in these kinds of activities, when our ancestors begin to work their wonders, they have themselves to blame’’
On the sidelines, the President-General of Issele-Uku Development Union, Chief Ofordile Uge told The Pointer that the event is performed regularly. ‘’It is performed every three years. We have been doing it, we did it some three years ago and we are repeating it this year. So many things have been going on in the community, especially kidnapping.
‘’We realised that those perpetrating these crimes are within the community. Even if those individuals are foreigners or natives, the land of Issele-Uku will punish them. By this exercise, they (kidnappers) will be captured and every evil that they are committing in this community will be exposed. This is the essence of this exercise’’ the President-General said.
Before approaching the gods and their ancestors, did the community approach the government? Chief Ofordile explained, ‘’The security agencies appear to be overwhelmed by the situation, even our local vigilante. Yet, we still depend on the government and we call on them too. The insecurity situation is ravaging the whole of Nigeria but it is becoming too much in Issele-Uku and that is why we are crying out, doing our traditional thing and looking up to the government for assistance,’’ he said.
As he had admitted, the exercise is performed periodically, the last one being three years ago. Did the gods answer their prayers? ‘’Yes, the ritual naturally reduces such incidents. The message I have for my community is to keep believing in God, and believe in our Obi, who is our supreme leader. Let there be peace, justice and unity’’
He further added that the exercise does not contradict any religious belief. ‘’You saw some people with their bibles. There is no idol here, nothing. It is just telling our Supreme God and whatever makes us to be Issele-Uku, because we also recognise our ancestors. They are our deities, they help us. So, it does not contradict any belief. Christians, Muslims, and traditional worshippers are here. There is no killing of any animal. Call upon whatever you know. All we need is peace in Issele-Uku’’ he said.
Corroborating earlier speakers, a native of Issele-Uku, Mr Onyemaechi Ikechukwu, who spoke with The Pointer during the Ine-Ubi ceremony, narrated how diabolic charms have saturated their markets. ‘’Now, what we see in our markets is women having sores on their feet. We call it Achaele. These evil persons go to your shop and keep it so that you will not sell or even for you to vacate that shop. That charm is sold for only N50 but to cure the sickness it causes costs more than N450,000.
‘’The worst part is that you don’t even know the right person to treat you. It is after spending millions of Naira that you may be lucky to find someone to treat you. We have been appealing to them to stop this evil practice and juju but they have refused. That Achaele charm is bought from across the Niger and then they come here to cause havoc with it.
‘’Again, this kidnapping of a thing is alien to Issele-Uku. We welcome visitors and we treat everybody the same. But what we are seeing today is more than us. We have been appealing to the police, the DSS and other security outfits to save us because these kidnappers are picking us up daily. So, this prompted the community to place a curse on those doing all this evil.
‘’We do this ritual periodically but it appears that things are getting out of hand. Issele-Uku is a peaceful town, we welcome visitors, even more than our people. Unfortunately, it appears that the people we welcomed are now doing us evil. This is why we are placing curses on those who are perpetuating evil against Issele-Uku’’ Mr Ikechukwu said.
Accordingly, the Ozzah of Issele-Uku, Chief Victor Isiekwenegbu, told The Pointer that the ceremony is a public and general affirmation that crime does not pay and the condemnation of all who are involved in crime. ‘’These days, you can see that there is so much crime in Nigeria and we are seeing a lot of it here in Issele-Uku. We have never dreamt of kidnapping and we abhor it. What we are saying is that anybody involved in kidnapping should not be a member of society.
‘’Issele-Uku is a clean society, we do not condone crime and that is what this ceremony affirms. Everybody in the community has come out to condemn the kidnapping and other evils and cursing that woe be the portion of perpetrators. So, this ceremony is spiritual’’ he said.
Chief Isiekwenegbu alleged that there have been incidences of kidnappings in Issele-Uku and its environs, adding ‘’We have had such incidents recently and it is alarming. It is something that we never imagined would happen in this town. Although, when development comes, it also attracts certain vices. The security personnel are trying but it is obvious that throughout the country, they are not even able to cope. There are kidnappers everywhere, herdsmen in the bushes destroying farm crops and killing farmers, Boko Haram in the north etc. In Issele-Uku, we have the police, security agencies and the people also doing their best to save the situation’’ he said.
Another chieftain of Issele-Uku and a professor of microbiology, Chief John Ochei, said the Ine-Ubi ceremony was also part of a bigger festival coming. ‘’When we strike the ground, we are placing a curse on all evildoers, asking them to leave Issele-Uku. This is the significance of beating the palm midribs on the ground. It is a general curse to all enemies of the town’’ he said, adding that the ceremony was also part of a cultural reawakening.
‘’In the past, you hear that people were kidnapped on the highway. But today, they are now being kidnapped even inside the town. This is very worrisome and a very sad situation’’ Chief Ochei said, even as he expressed confidence in the security agencies and vigilante groups to arrest the situation; not also ruling out divine intervention in the war against insecurity.
But while the people of Issele-Uku are seeking divine assistance to curb insecurity, Governor Oborevwori is not also losing sleep. On the same April 23 2025, the state government said it has initiated plans to profile herdsmen and cattle owners operating within the state as part of efforts to curb rising incidents of violence against farmers and foster peaceful coexistence between both groups.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Livestock and Inter-Ethnic Relations, Chief Jeffrey Azagba, disclosed this during a meeting with members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Delta State Chapter.
Azagba said: “It is worrisome that armed herdsmen are causing havoc in some communities,” Chief Azagba stated. “Profiling them will help identify the bad eggs and ensure peace in our communities’’ he said, just as he urged the leadership of MACBAN to submit a comprehensive list of their members, emphasizing that Governor Oborevwori is committed to rooting out any elements undermining his peace and development agenda.
“Delta State is an agrarian state. We must scale up agricultural production without the fear of insecurity,” Azagba said, adding “Anyone aiding or abetting criminal activities should either relocate or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.”
In response, the State Secretary of MACBAN, Mustapha Suleiman, expressed gratitude to the government for the initiative. He assured that the herdsmen community would fully support and align with the administration’s peace and security agenda. We appreciate the government’s approach and will work hand in hand to ensure a peaceful coexistence,” Suleiman said.
Also, Governor Oborevwori has implemented a comprehensive and multifaceted strategy to enhance security in Delta State, addressing both immediate threats and underlying causes of insecurity. His approach integrates tactical support for security agencies, community engagement, infrastructural development, and socio-economic initiatives. These include the recent donation of 66 operational vehicles—including 23 pickup trucks, eight Sienna wagons, and four Hilux vehicles—to various security agencies to bolster daily patrols, surveillance, and rapid response capabilities across the state.
Also, the existing security outfit, formerly known as ‘Delta Hawk,’ has been rebranded to ‘Operation Delta Sweep.’ This rebranding reflects a renewed strategic focus on combating crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and illegal oil bunkering.
The state government has also strengthened collaboration with Security Agencies with Governor Oborevwori pledging sustained partnerships with the military and other security agencies and approving infrastructure projects like internal roads at military barracks and providing Certificates of Occupancy for land allocated to the Nigerian Army, facilitating their operations within the state.
Similarly, Governor Oborevwori inaugurated the Delta State Security Trust Fund to ensure consistent funding for security operations. He has called on oil companies and other stakeholders to contribute to the fund, emphasizing its role in equipping security agencies and enhancing their operational effectiveness.
Recognizing the importance of intelligence in security management, the administration has established offices dedicated to grassroots intelligence gathering and early warning systems. These measures aim to proactively address potential security threats.
The Oborevwori administration also actively engages with traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, and women’s organizations to maintain peace and resolve conflicts. These engagements foster community trust and collaboration in security efforts.
Furthermore, the state government is investing heavily in educational infrastructure, such as the construction of Model Technical Colleges, to provide youths with skills and opportunities, thereby reducing their susceptibility to criminal activities. This is also in addition to Youth Empowerment Programs like the Women Empowerment Skill Acquisition Programme (WESAP) and the MORE Biz-Up programme to empower women, persons with disabilities, and young entrepreneurs, promoting economic self-reliance and reducing crime rates.
These comprehensive security measures have contributed to Delta State’s reputation as one of the more stable and peaceful states in Nigeria. The enhanced security has encouraged economic activities, with increased investor confidence and a noticeable improvement in the state’s nightlife and business environment.
The Issele-Uku community have played their part in line with their traditional convictions. Whether the gods and ancestors will join the war against kidnappers remains veiled in faith. Yet, one thing is clear, all hands must be on deck, including godly hands.
