The Ewuare II of Benin has summoned native doctors, traditional priests and priestesses to an emergency meeting over the rising insecurity plaguing Edo State and other parts of the country.
The directive also states that the meeting will take place at the Oba of Benin Palace in Benin City on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 12 p.m.
Chief Victor Nosakhare issued the directive in a statement on Friday on behalf of the Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor.
The palace noted that Oba Of Benin, Oba Ewuare II ordered the meeting and directed that it be treated as an urgent matter.
It also clarified that the purpose of the gathering is to explore traditional approaches that could support ongoing government efforts to tackle insecurity.
Meanwhile, the Benin Traditional Council also announced plans to meet with youth leaders, popularly known as Okaighele, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the same location and time.
The development highlights increasing involvement of traditional institutions in efforts to support security agencies amid rising cases of kidnapping and cult-related violence in the state.
BACKSTORY
A rapidly escalating insecurity crisis has relentlessly plagued several regions across the country.. Similarly, Edo State faces critical security challenges, primarily driven by kidnapping-for-ransom, cultist killings, and highway robberies.
Meanwhile, the move by the Oba of Benin comes barely three days after the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, said that many reports circulated on the social media about security situation in the state were false and orchestrated to discredit his administration.
Governor Okpebholo also claimed many residents of the state have resorted to recruiting criminal networks from other parts of the country.
He said the local collaborators arranged kidnap-for-ransom operations and handed over victims to hired gangs in the bush.
Additionally, the governor alleged that some Edo residents now go to a certain part of Nigeria to recruit criminals for kidnapping, armed robbery among other crimes in the state.
