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A 58-year-old woman, Mrs Gloria Okumaraye, who hails from Kokori community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, has appealed to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigations Department (CID), at the Delta State Police Command Headquarters, Okpanam Road, Asaba, for protection over alleged threats to her life.
She linked the alleged threats to a traditional religious group in her community known as the Igbe religious group, which she accused of attempting to force her nephew, Tony Itobore Onohwakpor, into joining the group.
Mrs Okumaraye said her nephew, who is under her care, was being pressured to undergo initiation into the group against his wishes and those of the family.
She expressed concern over the alleged threats and appealed to the police to intervene and ensure the safety of her nephew and other family members.
Okumaraye alleged that the group had pressured her family for years, to make Onohwakpor join their religious practices with claims that he possesses a special spiritual gift from their god.
She said the young man, having noticed the implications of joining the traditional worshippers, went into hiding to an undisclosed location, adding that the group decided to threaten her family to the point of elimination if she doesn’t produce the young man for the initiatiation.
“They are threatening me to provide him or face death. They have also threatened that my children will face the same consequences if I fail to produce him,” Okumaraye told the reporter.
Meanwhile, Okumaraye explained that she had previously logged complaints to the police over continued threat to life by the group if she failed to produce Onohwakpor.
Okumaraye’s allegations are contained in two police investigation reports following complaints filed on June 12, 2024, and December 18, 2025. The reports documented claims of threatening text messages and the alleged placement of ritual objects in her compound. Police reportedly obtained her statement, text messages, photographs and video recordings.
In the June 2024 complaint, she complained that she received a message demanding that she produce Onohwakpor.
The message reportedly read: “You know where he is, provide him or face the consequences. Tony is the chosen one.”
In the December 2025 complaint, she alleged that three persons entered her compound, performed incantations and left items she described as ritual objects.
The police reports, however, did not identify any suspect, confirm that the alleged perpetrators belonged to the Igbe group, or record an arrest or prosecution. Investigations were said to be ongoing.
Call for protection
Okumaraye said she had reported the matter repeatedly and submitted a petition seeking protection and investigation, but claimed the situation remained unresolved.
She urged the police and relevant government agencies to identify those responsible, if offences are established, and protect her family.
Freedom of religion and cultural association are constitutionally protected in Nigeria, but threats, intimidation and violence remain criminal offences and should be investigated based on evidence.
