The Okhemuokho family of Ihievbe village in Owan East local government area of Edo state has lamented the disappearance of four members of the family over dedication to Ifa oracle in the village.
In a statement made available to Blueprint in Abuja Wednesday, alongside a police report, head of the family, Chief Bobai Amedu Okhemuokho, who is also the community leader, said the disappearance of a member of the family, Mrs Philomena Essau Okhemuokho, alongside her four Albino children, “has led to mysterious death in the village.”
He said: “What is more worrying to me, as the head of the family, is that, apart from the frequent early death of male children in our village over the years, pressures are being mounted on me by the community to find the whereabouts of Mrs Philomena Essau Okhemuokho and her four Albino children, including Agbons Thomas Okhemuokho, Rosemary Okhemuokho, Annabel Okhemuokho and Hope Amina Okhemuokho.
“Philomena disappeared from the village after refusing to be taken with her children to the shrine to undergo a purification exercise. They have since remained incommunicado. I made publications before, but I am notifying the general public again that it is mandatory for Philomena and her four Albino children to be presented to the shrine for purifications, as required by Ifa oracle.
“As soon as they all are found, the frequent death of male children in the community will stop. Any useful information about their whereabouts should be directed to the nearest police station, as the purification exercise is very important for the sake of the entire Okhemuokho family and the whole community.”
