From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Crown Prince of Benin kingdom and Edaiken N’Uselu, Eheneden Erediauwa, on Sunday, led his siblings to perform the Izakhue rites according to Benin customs in continuation of the 15 days funeral rites of Oba Erediauwa, the Oba of Benin.
The ceremony involved entertainment of guests and performing some sacrifices at the shrine of Ugha Ozolua.
Animals slaughtered at the shrine included a cow, chicken and a goat.
Wearing a hat decorated with beads on a white shirt and wrapper, the crown prince first performed some dance steps to a funeral song by the Isiemwenro guild when he arrived the palace.
Members of the Royal Iwebo House led him to the altar of Oba Ozolua.
After prayers were offered and the animals slaughtered, the event climaxed with a dance procession to the Emotan shrine and other shrines.
There were several musical performances and cultural display at the oba palace ground.
Members of the Isiemwenro guild (the big ants that sting the oba’s enemies) wore black attires and danced with their traditional weapons.
The dance procession, which followed designated routes caused traffic congestion.
Military invasion: I’m under house-arrest, says Gbaramatu monarch
From Emmanuel Ogoigbe, Warri
The Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, Oboro Gbaraun II, Aketekpe Agadagba, has raised the alarm that his life is in danger because of Saturday’s invasion of Oporoza community, his home town by the military.
The Gbaramtu monarch raised the alarm when Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (retd), paid an unscheduled visit to his palace on Sunday. He urged the government to come to his rescue.
Oboro Gbaraun said he felt threatened by the presence of the military in Oporoza as nobody knew the fate that would befall them as the military had occupied houses vacated by his subjects.
“They came in large numbers, beat up people, looted our houses, humiliated my people and even injured an 80-year-old chief. Some women are even looking for their children. I sit down here watching the military parading my people as if they are criminals. I am in deep pains. I cannot move out of this palace. In fact, I am under house arrest. All my chiefs have ran away from the community. I am here alone and I don’t know what will happen to me next. The soldiers are now the owners of this kingdom,” he said.
Brigadier General Boroh said the military was in Oporoza community to search for arms and other military-related items in the hands of the people as well as keep the peace, ensure stability and not to molest them, in view of the recent pipeline bombings by a new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
Boroh, who was flanked by his Chief of Staff, Col. Dedis Abel (retd), described the action of the NDA as ‘economic sabotage’, pointing out that it was affecting the nation’s economy. He added that investors and their investments are being threatened by the activities of the NDA, saying would be investors were being driven away by hostilities in the region.