Why I’ve been cracking down on Anambra native doctors – Gov Soludo

Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has explained why his administration has taken strong action against certain native doctors operating in the state.

Speaking at a media chat in Akwa, the state capital, the governor said the government distinguishes between genuine traditional religion and “criminal idolatry.”

“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,” Soludo said.

He added, “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.”

Soludo revealed that some native doctors were allegedly preparing charms for kidnappers and armed robbers, engaging in criminal acts that could involve human sacrifices, all in the name of wealth, power, and protection.

“It is the duty of the state government to stop diabolical rituals that give rise to evil practices such as ‘Ego Mbute,’ ‘Oke-Ite,’ ‘Yahoo Plus,’ and idolatry, which are increasingly returning to Igbo socio-cultural life,” he said.

The governor emphasised that these illegal activities have nothing to do with genuine traditional medicine, which respects God and humanity, and stressed the need to expose and deal decisively with offenders.

In line with this stance, the Anambra State government recently arrested and prosecuted several native doctors for criminal violations. Among them was a Nnewi-based practitioner, Johnpaul Ezenagu, popularly known as “Mmuo Mmili Afulu Anya,” accused of performing illegal rituals and supplying counterfeit currency to internet fraudsters.

During a raid led by Ken Emeakayi, Ezenagu reportedly guided operatives to a water shrine where the rituals were allegedly performed. Despite invocations, no supernatural results were observed, casting doubt on his claims of summoning a water goddess in the form of an alligator.

Earlier, another self-acclaimed native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, also known as “Akwa Okuku Tiwara Aki n’Oba,” was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment following his arrest last year. Part of his sentence runs concurrently with the period already spent in custody.