A shocking scandal has rocked the quiet community of Ewoyi Village in Esan North East, Edo State, after Prince Festus, the son of the revered Chief Priest, Prince Patrick Arekhandia, was accused of committing a grave abomination against the land’s customs and traditions.
According to reports, Prince Festus, who resides in the kingdom with his wife and three children, allegedly impregnated his father’s fourth wife. The incident, which occurred in March 2025, has sparked outrage among the villagers and traditional council, with calls for severe traditional punishment to cleanse the land.
Chief Priest Patrick Arekhandia, 96, is the spiritual leader of the Ohuie shrine and custodian of the kingdom’s ancestral traditions. It was gathered that due to his advanced age, he has been unable to fulfill marital obligations with his wives, a situation that allegedly led to the scandal.
“This act is considered a great taboo in our culture,” said a source within the kingdom who preferred to remain anonymous. “The gods have been angered, and the elders have declared that only the cleansing of the land through his death can appease them.”
Fearing for his life, Prince Festus fled the village after the decree was issued. He reportedly sought refuge with a friend in Lagos, who later assisted him in securing a visa to leave the country.
As of press time, the whereabouts of Prince Festus remain unknown, and efforts to reach the palace for an official statement were unsuccessful. The incident has raised fresh debates about the place of ancient customs in modern society, especially when it involves life-and-death consequences.
