>
Reports of many young people caught with human parts and sleeping in same room with corpses of loved ones for days as part of get-rich-quick rituals made strong headlines in the year 2018.
On social media, many reported cases of young people stealing female underwears and picking used sanitary pads to be used for money rituals.
These developments are part of the issues that worried the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, in the year 2018.
Speaking on Sunday during a thanksgiving service at the Holy Aruosa Cathedral in Benin to round off the 2018 annual Igue Festival, the monarch advised the youth to shun money rituals as there was no easy way to accumulate wealth.
He warned that the behaviour was abominable and alien to Benin customs and tradition.
“Youths who cling to the illusion that they can become wealthy by killing people or stealing female underwear for ritual purposes, will no doubt face the consequence,” he said.
The monarch warned the youth not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs during elections, just as he warned politicians against acts that could undermine the credibility of the 2019 elections.
He announced a N2 million cash donation as welfare fund to assist children of indigent worshipers of Holy Aruosa Cathedral and the development of the church which was built in 15th Century.
The traditional ruler also announced a N50, 000 gift to the church choir in addition to the sum of N100,000 donation to other departments of the church.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Oba was accompanied by his wives to the church service which was conducted in Edo language.
Top palace functionaries including palace Chiefs, priests and priestesses of different deities, members of the Benin royal family and dukes were in attendance.