Cultists Terrorise Family Over Son’s Refusal To Bear Late Father’s Mantle

BY HANSON OMOREGIE
The Paragon family of Ekae community in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo state are allegedly being hunted by members of some deadly cult groups which has kept them on the edge since the death of their father on February 2,2012.
The late High Chief Paragon Jacob, apart from being the ( Ohen) Chief Priest of the Ekae Community shrine, was also a leading member of five different cult groups. The cult groups he swore allegiance to are Ogboni Fraternity, Asigidi Conclave, Osokpikan Temple, Black Axe and Eiye Confraternities. Interestingly, these five cult groups have one come practice which revolves around human sacrifices.
While the first three groups are abhored and feared by many because of their nocturnal activities, the Black Axe and Eiye Confraternities are more daring and thry often carry out their nefarious activities in broad daylight.
Just before his demise in 2012, the Septugenarian High Chief Paragon Jacob was elevated to the position of Olori, thus making him the highest ranking member of the Ogboni Fraternity. And going by the dictates of the Fraternity, he was expected to be succeeded by his eldest son who must of necessity, swore allegiance to the Fraternity.
Ironically ,his eldest son, Eghosa Paragon is a staunch believer of Christ and an Evangelist with one of the thriving Pentecostal churches in Benin City. By virtue of his faith, Eghosa Paragon would have nothing to do with any of the cult groups. Consequently, he was determined not to compromise his Christian faith .
First, the Elders of Ekae community wanted him to be enthroned as the community’s Chief Priest(Ohen). He instantly declined on the.premise that the office of the Chief Priest would jeopardise his Christian Evangelical works and such, runs contrary to his Christian faith.
Eghosa’s refusal was regarded as affront on the collective destiny of the entire community since they would be unable to perform traditional activities in the community shrine until a new Chief Priest is enthroned. There were visible threats Eghosa and his younger brother by some aggressive and more vocal embers of Ekae community.
This marked the genesis of the family’s ordeal which unfortunately, had culminated in the gruesome murder of the second son of the late Septugenarian, Paragon Adonis killed on March 12,2012 when gunmen invaded their home in the dark hours of the night.
Faced with the looming threats to his life, Eghosa reportedly went into hiding. But that had not freed him and his family from the menace of the cults who are bent in forcing him into subscribing to their oaths of allegiance or have him possibly killed.
The NIGERIAN OBSERVER learnt that almost five years after High Chief Paragon Jacob’s death, the Ekae Community is still without a Chief Priest; a situation that makes it intensely precarious for Eghosa to return to his native community or even walk as a free man on the streets of Benin City or any part of the country for that matter.
A member of the Ekae Community Development Association, Mr Frank Iduozie told journalists that the threats to Eghosa Paragon’s life was not only coming from the community but all the cult groups which his late father swore allegiance to.
“The people of Ekae Community are angry because for nearly five years, they have not have been able to visit the community shrine. So the threats to Eghosa Paragon’s life would continue until he voluntarily presents himself be enthroned as the Ohen”, Mr Iduozie stated.