To tackle the menace of human trafficking in Edo state, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has forced native doctors in the kingdom to reverse all curses placed on victims.
Many Edo state indigenes are trafficked mainly to Europe by unscrupulous agents, where they are forced into prostitution.
Victims are forced to obey the dictates of the agents due to fear of the repercussions of oaths administered by the native doctors.
However, the Oba invited hundreds of the native doctors to his palace on Friday, were they were forced to break the subsisting curses and free all victims from obligation to the agents.
The foremost traditional ruler said the embarrassment the menace has brought to the state was enough.
He said he responded to an appeal by the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to use his influence to stop the menace.
Oba Ewuare II said his palace has nothing against the practice of native medicine but would not condone the native doctor’s craft being used to aid and abet human trafficking.
He said, “You native doctors whose business is to subject people to oath of secrecy and encouraging evil act in the land, you have to repent, stop doing it.
“This is not a joking matter and if you do not repent, you’ll see the repercussions.”
He added that any native doctor who persists with the practice would see the wrath of the gods.
“We want to use this medium to tell those who are under any oath of secrecy that they are now free. We revoke the oath today.
“What the palace stands for is peace and the development of the state. I want to use this medium to tell you that the act of using charms to aid trafficking, the palace seriously frowns at it.
“We want us to join hands together to fight against human trafficking in the land,” the traditional ruler added.