The governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, has explained the reasons behind his administration’s crackdown on certain native doctors in the state.
Speaking during a media briefing in Awka, the state capital, Soludo stated that while he does not oppose traditional religion, some individuals exploit it as a cover for criminal activities.
“They call it ‘oso Soludo,’ that is the run by criminal native doctors. We have made this very clear over and over again that we understand traditional religion,” the governor said.
“We also understand the difference between the traditional religion and criminal idolatry. We support freedom of worship, freedom of religion. Anybody can worship the way you want, provided you realise that your own right ends where the other person’s own starts.
“Where your own practices and preaches now breed criminality, that is where we come in. Traditional religion is a purist religion,” he added.
The governor further alleged that some native doctors are involved in preparing charms for kidnappers and armed robbers, as well as engaging in harmful practices that may include human sacrifices for money and protection.
He said it is the responsibility of the state government to curb such activities, which he linked to practices like ‘Ego Mbute,’ ‘Oke-Ite,’ ‘Yahoo Plus,’ and forms of idolatry re-emerging in Igbo socio-cultural life.
According to Soludo, these activities have no connection with genuine traditional medicine or spiritual practices centred on God and humanity, stressing the need to expose and decisively deal with those involved.
The state government has recently arrested and prosecuted several native doctors over alleged offences.
Operatives of the Anambra State Agunechemba Strike Force arrested a Nnewi-based native doctor, Johnpaul Ezenagu, also known as “Mmuo Mmili Afulu Anya,” over allegations of conducting illegal rituals and supplying counterfeit currency to internet fraudsters.
Security operatives, led by Ken Emeakayi, special adviser to the governor on community security, reportedly raided Ezenagu’s residence in Nnewi during a search operation.
During the operation, the suspect allegedly led officers to a water shrine where the rituals were said to have taken place.
In an attempt to verify his claims of summoning a water goddess believed to appear as an alligator, the native doctor carried out several invocations, which reportedly yielded no result.
In a separate case, another self-acclaimed native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as “Akwa Okuku Tiwara Aki n’Oba,” was sentenced to two years in prison in February after being arrested by the state government last year.
However, the High Court in Awka ruled that part of the sentence would run concurrently with the time he had already spent in custody.