Ugbighoko Community in the Egor Local Government Area of Edo State is embroiled in crises of confidence as it’s ancestral shrine has been desecrated by two young adults from the same family. The Odionwere Pa Aifuwa Igbinovia and elders of the community while threatening to invoke the ancestral spirits to locate those who brazenly sold or caused the sacred forest to be sold to unsuspecting buyers, the angry youths led Kwakey Idada have also vowed to track down the suspects. At the centre of the whole gamut of inquest are two siblings Stanley Osifo and Stephen Osifo who have also now been declared wanted by their uncle Mr Sunday Osifo who is said to be having a running battle with the suspects and also championing the search for the two young men since they allegedly committed the sacrilegious act. Trouble started when a bulldozer went about clearing the parcel of land housing the community shrine to the shock and amazement of all present who promptly moved to stop the driver before the machine could do much damage. It was learnt that upon interrogation, the man who bought the land and the driver of the bulldozer named those who sold the land but not after the duo had received the beating of their lives for touching their sacred forest. Both men were to be killed before men of the Nigeria Police stormed the place and prevented the crime. However, the police and the entire Ugbighoko community have launched a manhunt for Stanley and Stephen to get them apprehended. Sources close to the Osifos family revealed that the young men sold the land to the unsuspecting buyers because they thought it was free and was part of their parent’s property but were unaware of its spiritual significance to the community. The source added that the duo who have been abandoned by their parents upon getting to know the weight of their offence fled. ” Their mother’s land is sharing boundary with the community free land. The boys have actually been planning to sell their mother’s land in that area and use the money to establish themselves but we are surprised that they ended up selling part of community land along theirs.” That’s all I can say, the family source revealed. However, a leading member of the elders council of Ugbighoko and uncle to Stanley and Stephen Mr Sunday Osifo ostensibly trying to prove his loyalty to the preservation of the ancestral customs and traditions of the community, has vowed to give them up whenever they are found. The community has now placed a one million naira bounty on their head urging anyone who sees them anywhere in the country to give them up and claim the money. #
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