By Matthew Okagha
The Onaghise family of Iguomon community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State have expressed deep fear for the safety of their son, Osagie Onaghise.A spokesman for the family, Rev Benjamin Osarenmwindia alleged that Osagie ‘s life has been under constant threat after refusing to succeed his late uncle as the hereditary chief priest of the Asigidi cult group in Iguomon Community following his conversion to Christianity.
The cleric alleged in a statement that late Pa Moses Onaghise, had designated Osagie from infancy as his successor and groomed him over the years to assume the position of Agbaikan (Chief Priest) upon his death. According to him, Osagie participated in traditional worship at the community shrine for several years in obedience to his uncle’s wishes.
He revealed that Osagie’s life took a different turn shortly before his uncle’s death in 2021 when he embraced Christianity and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.
He added that after the burial rites of Pa Moses Onaghise, leaders of the Asigidi cult group informed Osagie that his late uncle had sworn an oath binding him to succeed as the next Agbaikan. He said Osagie rejected the demand, explaining that his Christian faith no longer permitted him to participate in traditional religious practices or undergo initiation into the cult group.
He alleged that repeated attempts by the group’s leadership to persuade Osagie eventually gave way to threats, with warnings that his refusal would attract severe consequences.
” Fearing for his safety, Osagie fled Benin City for Lagos in search of refuge”, Rev Osarenmwindia further revealed.
However, he alleged that on March 22, 2022, unidentified armed men attempted to abduct Osagie from his residence at No. 14, Aiyegbami Adamo Street Ikorodu, Lagos, but that he was rescued by members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), who intervened during the incident.
Rev Osarenmwindia said Osagie has continued to live in fear and appealed to security agencies and relevant government authorities to protect him and members of his family, whom he believes are also at risk because of his decision.
Commenting on the matter, an elder of Iguomon Community, Mr. Joseph Enabulele, maintained that Osagie’s refusal to accept the hereditary priesthood had brought a curse upon the community.
“Once you have been designated as a successor, it is difficult to say no. His decision has practically made it impossible for adherents of Asigidi to continue worship at the community shrine,” he said.
Also speaking, a leading chief priest of the group, Chief Aghatise, insisted that the leadership of Asigidi would do everything within its power to ensure that Osagie fulfilled the oath allegedly sworn by his late uncle.
“It is either alive or dead,” he said.
The Asigidi cult group is one of several traditional fraternities whose mode of worship is largely shrouded in secrecy. Members are said to meet mainly at night to perform rituals and other traditional religious activities.
Corroborating Rev Osarenmwindia ‘s account of the alleged abduction, the Zonal Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in Ikorodu , Lagos, Abimbola Saheed, said his patrol team was on routine surveillance on March 22, 2022, when they spotted three men attempting to force Osagie into a waiting vehicle.
“On sighting our patrol team, the men abandoned their attempt, entered their vehicle and sped off. During our interrogation of the victim, we discovered that he was being forced into the vehicle against his will. He told us the abductors had come all the way from Benin City to forcibly take him away,” Abimbola said.
