There is palpable tension as the people of Issele-Uku community in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State have gone spiritual, laying curses on kidnappers and other criminal elements terrorising the community.

There have been reports of kidnapping and killings in Issele-Uku and its environs in the first quarter of 2025.

At the inner chamber of the palace after a brief meeting with the chiefs, Omu, Eze-Dibie (spiritual head) and titled elders of the community, on Thursday, the traditional ruler of Issele-Uku kingdom,  HRM Obi Nduka, who emerged at the front view of the palace (Ishu Uge) expressed disenchantment with the recent happenings that had turned the peaceful community into a fearful one.

He said, “This Ine Ubi ceremony has become necessary and almost the last resort in helping the community to ward off evil on the land. This is a form of spiritual cleansing on the land, which was a method adopted by our forefathers to curtail evil in the community whenever it becomes unbearable.

“You all know Issele-Uku to be a visitors’ delight, loving and accommodating. We have never been used to this kind of criminal rampage where residents are now being abducted by kidnappers almost regularly.

“We don’t usually apply this method of traditional cleansing on our land where curses had to be laid on evildoers; but like I said, it has got to the level where we have to be deliberate in the actions we take to sanitise our community.”

“We are collaborating with the government and security agencies in seeking solutions to this menace, but at this point, we all have individual roles to also play while collective efforts are being made to nip the unsavoury situation in the bud.”

He further said, “Government has not failed us because the wave of insecurity is everywhere. However, my advice is that they should step up their game, in the sense that the security and welfare of the people remains the primary purpose of government as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“As part of our role as custodians of traditions and culture, we have placed curses on those masterminding evil and aiding evil criminal elements on our land. We can’t fold our arms to watch evil doers and their conspirators continue to have a field day. Whatever anybody whose hands are not clean sees in this matter, he or she should take it to be his or her evil consequences.”

PUNCH Metro observed there was a procession by the nine villages of the community which terminated at the palace with palm sticks, Bibles and chaplets in their hands, laying curses on kidnappers, armed robbers, poisonous charm planters and evildoers orchestrating wickedness against the peaceful kingdom.