South African poet, Mazisi Raymond Fakazi Mngoni Kunene (1930-2006) and his Nigerian counterpart, Gabriel Imomotime Okara, in their respective works, demonstrated how difficult it is for an African – no matter his embrace of modernity and religious values of the west and east – to divorce himself from the hubris of occultism, black magic and blood oath which form the template of centuries of African existence.
Kunene was particularly bothered by the rupture that modernity has caused on African traditions, culture and ways of life. In Piano and Drums, Okara evocatively brings out the effects of clashes between Western and African cultures, while in The soldier hero, Kunene invokes the departed spirits of Ancestors and begs the dead not to abandon the living, basing this on the African cosmological belief that there is a permanent matrimony between life and death.
Peter Morton-Williams’ anthropological study of Ogboni, the dreaded ancient Yoruba secret cult, entitled The Yoruba Ogboni cult in Oyo, which outlines the potency of blood in sacrifices and oath, helps to interface with how politicians go to pastors, Alfas and babalawos to secure their political future.
Also, If you are one of those who feels that some culture and tradition of the black Africans have been filtered away by civilization then, you may have been living in the outer space. If you are also of the opinion that the days of unwholesome and dastard practices of the stone age are gone for good in black Africa, you’ll be shocked to know that some of these practices still go on in our land especially after reading the pathetic story of a middle aged man, Lucky Jatto,who is now on the run for refusing to be initiated into the Ogboni fraternity.
Nigerian fragile security situations and it’s slowing economic downtown has continued to fuel cult related killings and increasing cases of families taking advantages of age long obnoxious traditions to perpetuate evils.
The stories of killings and initiation into this barbaric traditions and cult called fraternity that has claimed several lives has continued to hurt many families in Benin City, Edo State.
However, this piece is concerned about the excesses and authorities of the Ogboni Fraternity which has continued unabated in Nigeria and even in some West African countries. Inspite of repeated calls by some Churches and Non-governmental Organisations (NGO) in Nigeria recently for something to be done about their alleged barbaric, nefarious and inhuman operations, yet they are still on rampage.
Little wonder that the story of one Mr. Lucky Jatto, an innocent young man, in his late twenties and eldest son of his late father who is now on the run for his dear life readily comes to mind.
The reason why the said Lucky Jatto decided to embarked on a journey of nowhere according to investigation is not unconnected with his daring refusal to be initiated into the fraternity, despite an order from his father while alive.
It was reported recently that the secret meeting of the very feared group resolved that the on-the-run Lucky Jatto must be initiated into the group or risk been brutally murdered if seen anywhere in the world.
The family of Lucky who since birth had remain a dedicated Christian information gathered had reported the ugly situations to the traditional ruling council and various security operatives who seems incapacitated towards given the needed assistance as the fraternity has infiltrated its ranks and files.
Meanwhile, as the situations remains tensed, Lucky’s helpless ordeal was said to have started on March 23, 2017 following the death of his father, Sunday Jatto, and the subsequent demand of the Ogboni group to forcefully initiate Lucky as a replacement for his father in the occult group.
Members of the dreaded fraternity were alleged to have invaded the Late Sunday Jatto’s residence, shortly after its burial ceremony on May 2, 2017 in search of Lucky.
“Members of the fraternity came to the Late Sunday Jatto’s house at No.2, Edialu Ohovbe Quarters in Benin City and informed the family members that Pa. Jatto was their member while alive.
“They further stated that Pa. Jatto while alive chose his son Lucky as his successor in the occultic group.
“But Lucky Jatto owing to his Christian background blatantly refused to be initiated into the fraternity, hence his travails in the hands of the occultic group”, a source told our Correspendent.
Report has it that while Lucky was at home in May 2017, some alleged assassins made attempt to his life by shooting his leg but the said Lucky narrowly escaped through the back door to unknown location.
Angered by Lucky’s escape, the assassins who vowed to clampdown on him if found anywhere in the world unless he joined the occultic group, were said to have later recked untold havoc at the family’s residence before destroying his uncle’s church- Supreme Task Assemblies.
Family members of the fleeing Lucky according to multiple sources have become hopeless and helpless who on daily bases watch helplessly as the ravaging onslaught of the fraternity in the family continues unabated.
