Nigeria: Delta community places curses on kidnappers as insecurity worsens

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

The peaceful town of Issele-Uku in Delta State has been gripped by fear following a string of kidnappings and killings since the start of the year. Now, in a dramatic spiritual move, the community has turned to age-old traditions to fight back.

On Thursday, community leaders, chiefs, and elders gathered in the palace of the traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty Obi Nduka, to perform a powerful cleansing ritual known as Ine Ubi. The ceremony, which involves invoking ancestral curses on wrongdoers, is rarely used—but this time, the king said, enough is enough.

“This is almost a last resort,” Obi Nduka said. “We’ve always been a welcoming, peaceful people. But this wave of crime is unlike anything we’ve seen. It’s forcing us to act.”

Speaking from the palace’s sacred front chamber, the monarch condemned the rising tide of violence that has turned the once serene community into a place of fear. He explained that their forefathers once used such rituals to rid the land of evil when other efforts failed—and that time has come again.

The royal father emphasized that while the community is working with security agencies, every individual must also play a role in restoring peace.

“The government has not abandoned us. Insecurity is a nationwide issue. But they must step up,” he said. “As leaders, we are placing spiritual curses on those who harm our people. Anyone involved in these evils will face consequences—both from man and from the gods.”

In a moving show of unity, residents from all nine villages in Issele-Uku marched to the palace carrying palm sticks, Bibles, and prayer beads. Together, they laid spiritual curses on kidnappers, armed robbers, and anyone planting charms or bringing evil into the community.

The procession, deeply rooted in cultural symbolism, was both a cry for justice and a reminder that even in modern times, tradition still holds power in the hearts of the people.