By Mabel Aziba, Port Harcourt
What began as a call by a group of youths to confront what they described as harmful traditional practices in Onne community, Rivers State, ended with the destruction and burning of a local shrine.
On Monday, August 17, 2026, youths in Onne, led by Comrade Gift Aken and Pastor Arun Ejor, reportedly moved against the shrine, accusing it of being used for traditional rituals that they said should no longer have a place in the community.
The scene captured in photographs was striking.
Religious and ritual objects, framed images, bottles containing coloured liquids, pieces of clothing, dolls, bowls, pots and other items associated with the shrine were scattered across the ground.
Nearby, flames rose from a pile of materials as smoke filled the air.
A large chair, fabrics and other objects were seen engulfed in fire, while some of the youths stood around the burning items and watched.
For those who led the action, it was more than the destruction of a physical structure. It was presented as a statement about the kind of community they want Onne to become.
According to the youths, the shrine had been in use for a prolonged period and represented practices they considered harmful to residents. They declared that shrines and practices they regard as dangerous would no longer be tolerated in the community.
The action, however, also raises important questions about the boundary between community action, religious belief, cultural heritage and the law.
Traditional religious practices remain part of the history and cultural identity of many Nigerian communities. At the same time, residents have the right to raise concerns about practices they believe are harmful or abusive.
The challenge is how such concerns are addressed.
While the Onne youths’ action may have been intended to send a strong message, the burning and destruction of property can carry legal and social consequences, particularly if the owners of the shrine did not consent to the action.
The incident therefore goes beyond the flames seen in the photographs.
It is a story about a community caught between tradition and changing beliefs; between those determined to preserve old practices and others who believe some of those practices should disappear.
For Gift Aken, Pastor Arun Ejor and the youths who participated, the destruction of the shrine appears to have been a declaration that they want a different future for Onne.
But whether that future is achieved through confrontation and destruction, or through dialogue, lawful community decisions and peaceful engagement, remains an important question for the people of Onne.
For now, the shrine that once stood as a place of traditional worship has been reduced to scattered objects, ashes and memories — leaving the community to confront what happens when a battle over belief moves from disagreement to action.
