Traditional rulers and chiefs in Badagry, Lagos, have advocated the deployment of traditionalists or animists to tackle bandits and terrorists ravaging Nigeria.

According to the rulers, the animists will crush the insurgents using sigidi and zangbeto.

Speaking with journalists on Monday in Badagry, they said President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime should give the traditionalists the go-ahead and funds to stamp out insecurity.

“We engaged traditionalists to ensure the protection of Badagry and environs in the past. We encouraged them with some stipends to boost their morale,” said Michael Akappo, the ruler of Awarjigoh quarters in Badagry.

He added, “We have certain traditional rites that we perform every three months to ward off evil.” 

Mr Akappo Badagry people “have zangbeto as our guiding spirit.”

“This has been protecting us every night in all communities within Badagry,” the ruler claimed. “If any bad thing is about to happen in the land, once we invoke the spirit of zangbeto, it will chase away the evil coming to us.”

Also speaking, Tunde Giro, the Depegan of Badagry, confirmed that traditionalists’ mystical powers ward off external attacks or insecurity.

“We consult the Ifa oracle, and it tells us relevant sacrifices to make to appease the gods of the land for peace to reign,” he said.

Mr Giro reiterated the belief that zangbeto wards off evil attacks.

Abiodun Patinvo, the ruler of the Iya-Afin community in Badagry, urged Mr Buhari’s regime to seek the help of traditional rulers and chiefs to tackle the country’s worsening insecurity.

“Government should provide money for traditionalists to make necessary sacrifices to appease the gods of the land to chase evil away from the country,” said the Iya-Afin ruler. “There is what is called sigidi in Yoruba land. Sigidi is a small statue or effigy made of clay or wood and is used to harm enemies through a frightening ritual.”

Mr Patinvo added, “We can use sigidi to fight insurgency and banditry if the government empowers traditionalists.” 

(NAN)