The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has summoned native doctors, traditional priests and priestesses to an emergency palace meeting on June 23 to explore traditional approaches to tackling worsening insecurity in Edo State.
When government efforts alone aren’t cutting it, sometimes you call in reinforcements from another realm entirely. That’s essentially what the Oba of Benin has done, summoning native doctors, traditional priests and priestesses to an emergency security meeting at his palace.
The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has convened the emergency meeting as part of efforts to address the worsening security situation in Edo State and across Nigeria, with the directive contained in a statement issued on Friday by Chief Victor Nosakhare on behalf of the Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor.
The palace’s reasoning, according to PM News, was laid out plainly in the statement: “Having taken due cognizance of the prevailing security situation within Edo State and the nation at large, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR, Oba of Benin, has deemed it necessary and expedient to further explore all traditional and strategic means to complement the initiatives of government towards the restoration of peace, order and security in our domain.”
It continued: “Consequently, the Benin Traditional Council, acting under the authority and directive of His Royal Majesty, hereby invites all Igiohen N’ Ikpia and Igiohen N’ Ikhuo, traditional doctors in the Benin Kingdom, to an emergency meeting.”
The meeting is set for 12 noon on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the Oba’s Palace in Benin City, and must be treated with utmost urgency. A separate meeting with youth leaders, popularly known as Okaighele, has also been scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, at the same venue and time, as part of broader consultations to boost community participation in security efforts.
The royal intervention follows recent threats by Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo to sign execution warrants for those convicted of kidnapping and other violent crimes carrying the death sentence in the state.
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