Our gods will avenge royal sword theft —Gbaramatu council

The Gbaramatu Traditional Council of Chiefs has stated that the gods of the Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, would avenge the desecration of the golden royal sword, allegedly stolen by Nigerian military troops.

The golden royal sword, which is the traditional symbol of authority of the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, HRM Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe Agadagba, got missing from the Egbesu Shrine in Oporoza, headquarters of the kingdom on May 28, 2016 during a military invasion.

The Ibe-Benemowei of Gbaramatu kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, who addressed journalists on behalf of the Pere-in-Council, on Saturday, in Warri, said since the timeframe for the return of the golden sword had elapsed, and to avert further anger of the gods against the kingdom, rites of cleansing to replace it had begun in earnest.

Speaking further on what the desecrators of the golden sword should expect in return, Gbenekama said: “we don’t want the old one (sword). Let them keep it; it is capable (the gods are capable)  of fighting for themselves. We don’t want reparation or payment of damages; we don’t want anything, we just want to move on.”

Members of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council of Chiefs at the conference included the national women leader of the kingdom, Chief Vero Tangbowei; the Tugbanghanwei of the kingdom, Chief Clark Gbenewei; the Ibe-Korowei of the kingdom, Chief Samuel Okirika, among others.