A fraction of the community claimed that a native doctor revealed to them that their problems were caused by the cutting down of a sacred Iroko tree. The tree was cut down after 14 days prayer session by one Ighodaro, a pastor and the secretary of the community, with collaboration from another pastor that came from Delta State.
Pa Jolly Agbontean, who spoke on behalf of the Odeh group, said all the shrines in the community were sacred as they belonged to the Benin monarch but that the Ighodaro group destroyed the shrines, adding that, as a result, the shrines were now killing the persons behind the destruction and not the entire community.
Pa Jolly Agbontean claimed that a tree planted by Oba Ewuare I was cut down. “The Iroko tree was over 500 years old. The Iroko and the shrines were planted by Oba Ewuare 1. We served it on behalf of the Oba. The pastor said it was the Iroko that was causing the community members not to progress in life.
“They said all the witches and wizards were resident in the Iroko tree. Policemen were around to protect them while they destroyed all the shrines including the Oguedion (elders place). They were many that came after a crusade.
“We only watched after which we reported to the Oba. When the Oba invited them to produce the pastor, they said they could no longer find him. The Oba told them what to do for them to be saved but they refused to perform the sacrifice. Three of them have died since that time. We were not cursed by any Oba.
“This shrine was a tourist place. We worshipped it every three days and people visited the place from across the country.”
Another native, Pa Sunny Igbinovia, said he was forced to delete the pictures he took on the day the shrines were destroyed and the Iroko tree fell, regretting that they destroyed our ancestral shrine where we worshipped and think they will have peace.
Odeh, the Chief Priest of the Okhuaihe N’ Uleku shrine says: “the affliction would not affect the entire community but (only) those that cut the sacred tree.
“The Oba told them they will suffer if they did not appease the gods. The shrine is owned by the Oba. Only the Oba knows what to do to them. The Oba did not curse us. Those who cut the tree are the ones crying. They are the ones wearing the shoe and know where it pinches them.
“Immediately that thing happened, we reported to the palace and the palace told them that they committed an abomination. We are waiting for them, any day they are ready for the sacrifice we are ready. They need to appease the gods for their own safety if not they will continue to die”
Source: Vanguard
