BY CHIKA KWAMBA/RITA OYIBOKA/JUDITH OBIANUA
In a chilling sequence of events that has sent shockwaves across Nigeria, the brutal murder of Hon. Justice Azuka, a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, has unveiled a sinister nexus between crime and traditional practices. On December 26, 2024, Azuka was abducted by a gang that callously withdrew ₦100 million from his bank account before ending his life with two gunshots to the head. His lifeless body was later discovered beneath the Niger Bridge.
The subsequent investigation led authorities to Asaba, the Delta State Capital, where the trail of evidence pointed to a shrine operated by a native doctor alleged to have provided spiritual fortification to the perpetrators. This revelation prompted the Asagba of Asaba, HRM (Obi) Prof. Epiphany Azinge SAN, to take decisive action by banning the activities of Eze-Nwanyi (female native doctors) and other unregulated traditional practitioners within his domain. The monarch expressed deep concern over the involvement of these individuals in heinous crimes such as kidnappings and ritual killings, emphasizing that many were outsiders exploiting local beliefs for nefarious purposes.
In solidarity, Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo launched a comprehensive crackdown on fraudulent native doctors whose spurious claims and malevolent practices have perverted indigenous traditions and misled the youth into criminality. This initiative aims to dismantle the infrastructure that enables such atrocities, targeting those who exploit cultural beliefs to perpetrate crimes.
The intertwining of crime with certain traditional practices is not an isolated issue. Recent statistics indicate a disturbing rise in ritualistic killings across Nigeria, with numerous cases linked to individuals masquerading as native doctors. This alarming trend underscores the urgency of regulatory measures and community vigilance to preserve the sanctity of cultural heritage while safeguarding innocent lives. To this end, The Pointer engaged with traditionalists, activists, pastors, and other key stakeholders, exploring diverse perspectives to provide a comprehensive examination of the issue.
Chilotam Nnamdi is a spiritualist who is deeply rooted in the ancient cultural practices of her forefathers. In a telephone interview with The Pointer, she expresses her sentiments on the matter. ‘’The crackdown should not be limited to traditional worshippers alone. It should also extend to other religious practices so that we can all be on the same page. Focusing on traditional worshippers alone is unfair and it would cause chaos in society’’
However, she admitted that some traditional worshipers have overstepped their bounds, adding ‘’there are things that you have to respect. Many of them (native doctors) abuse the privilege, making caricatures of the deities and this is why it appears that traditional worship is being mocked. Today, some people erroneously think that going back to their roots means doing rituals to become rich quickly. This is not true’’.
Chilotam, however, supported the crackdown on fraudulent practitioners of traditional worship, even as she stressed that Igbo traditional worship does not entail evil or ritual killings as now portrayed on social media. ‘’Oke-Ite is not part of traditional worship. We understand that there are charms but their purpose is for protection and not for making quick-wealth. Such charms as Oke-Ite are not good and I do not support it’’ she said.
Meanwhile, Human rights activist and international relations expert, Amb Fidelis Onakpoma, weighed in on the Anambra State Government’s recent arrest of native doctors, calling for a balance between fighting crime and being culturally aware.
In a chat with The Pointer, he said, “The government’s decision to apprehend native doctors, allegedly as part of efforts to combat rising crime and insecurity, raises serious concerns,” adding, “Native doctors or rather, traditional healers hold a crucial place in African culture and indigenous medicine. Arresting them indiscriminately, without concrete evidence, not only disrespects cultural heritage but also infringes on fundamental human rights.”
Onakpoma emphasised that justice must be upheld through due process. “If these arrests were carried out without clear evidence of wrongdoing, then they are a blatant violation of human rights. The government must ensure that any detentions are lawful, fair, and based on credible complaints.”
Rather than targeting native doctors, he urged the government to address the root causes of crime, ritual killing and insecurity through education, job creation, and social welfare initiatives. “A more effective approach would be to engage with traditional healers, educate them on ethical practices, and collaborate on community safety measures, rather than resorting to mass arrests.”
He further called for a more balanced and culturally sensitive strategy. “While the intention to curb insecurity is commendable, the method of cracking down on native doctors demands urgent reconsideration. A government that respects the rights and dignity of its people will always seek solutions that are just and culturally aware.”
In an interview with a legal practitioner specialising in international human rights law, Christian Ekweh, he highlighted the constitutional rights at stake. “There is freedom of religion in this country’’ he told The Pointer, adding ‘’A person may be perceived as a bad influence on society, but that does not negate their right to worship as they choose so long as they do so within the confines of the law.”
Ekweh further emphasised that religious and traditional practices often follow similar patterns across different belief systems. “Pastors and priests preach prosperity and push their agenda in various ways. Whether it’s a ‘Three-Day Power-Packed Service,’ a ’ 21-day Fasting and Prayer Vigil,’ or an ‘Awele or Fruitful Service,’ these religious practices operate on the same fundamental principles. Native Doctors may conduct their rituals differently, but they are exercising the same right to religious expression.”
He pointed out that selective enforcement of the law raises concerns about discrimination. “If a native doctor is engaging in criminal activity, whether fraud, human sacrifice, or other illegal acts, then the government has every right to investigate and prosecute. However, if the arrests are based solely on their religious or traditional practices, then this is a dangerous precedent that contradicts our constitutional values. The law must be applied equally, without bias toward one faith or practice over another.”
He urged authorities to distinguish between lawful traditional practices and actual criminal activities. “If the government truly wants to combat crime, they must focus on proper investigations, gathering concrete evidence, and ensuring due process. Arbitrary arrests and sweeping crackdowns only serve to violate fundamental rights and create a deeper mistrust between the people and the state.”
Meanwhile, a traditionalist and businessman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity (for obvious reasons), criticised the government’s approach, arguing that the issue of money rituals is often misunderstood and sensationalised.
He explained, “’Money ritual’ is a broad term. Every day, I pour libations to the gods. I pray, and I sometimes make sacrifices that require animals for protection, business success, and blessings. Does that make me a money ritualist? If so, then what about Christians and Muslims who fast, pray, and offer sacrifices in their religious traditions? The line between faith, tradition, and superstition is often blurred, and in many cases, the accusations against native doctors are rooted in bias rather than evidence.”
He went on to suggest that the recent arrest of Anambra native doctor, Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki, is nothing more than a distraction from the real issue.
“This man is a low-hanging fruit, a scapegoat for a much deeper problem. The real perpetrators of crime are the ones dealing in human body parts. Most so-called money rituals involve symbolic sacrifices, not murder. The real question is: did they catch this man with a dead body? If not, what exactly is he being questioned for? Making claims he may or may not be able to fulfil? If that were a crime, then pastors and prophets who promise miracle wealth should be facing the same scrutiny.”
He also dismissed the idea that banning movies depicting money rituals would curb crime, insisting that the real focus should be on tackling organised crime. “We have a serious security crisis in Nigeria, and it does not start with arresting native doctors or banning Nollywood films. It starts with investigating the actual murderers, the human traffickers, and those involved in organ harvesting. In developed nations, you can’t just arrest someone without evidence. Even when there is evidence, it has to be concrete, admissible in court, and tied directly to a crime, not just based on suspicion or public sentiment.”
He further urged the government to shift its focus toward proper criminal investigations rather than moral panic. “Justice must be based on facts, not fear. If we want to stop crime, we must go after the real criminals, not just the easiest targets.”
Reacting to the issue, a cleric who simply identified himself as Rev (Dr) Penticost viewed ritual as ‘’ an act wherein you use native or diabolical means to appease the gods, invoke the wrath of the gods or achieve an end by a means that may be termed diabolical’’ adding that about three or four decades ago, those involved in money rituals or occultism were aged people who do so hiding.
‘’The crackdown by the Anambra State government, followed by the Asagba of Asaba, HRM Obi (Prof) Epiphany Azinge SAN, is a welcome development. Remember what happened in Okija Shrine many years back? The Federal Government at that time, under President Olusegun Obasanjo, cracked down on them and shot down Okija Shrine. One of the core responsibilities of the government is to protect the lives of citizens.
‘’The traditional ruler also can protect the lives and property of those within their domain. I want to eulogize the steps taken. The monarch must be commended for this noble step to crack down on those who are involved in these nefarious activities. Can’t you see shrines virtually on our streets, and sacrifices at various junctions in the 21st century? We’re not talking about the dark age of 200 years ago. We are talking about the 21st century—2024, 2025—sacrifices everywhere. It’s terrible. It shows that we are not advancing, rather we are retrogressing. I support the crackdown on these people 100 per cent. This is a welcome development.
‘’How else can you handle the menace they are causing than to arrest them, prosecute them, and burn their shrines? Those who are patronizing them must also be part of this crackdown. This is very important because when you remove the root, the leaves will wither, and by the time there are no persons who want to do this ritual for these boys (Yahoo, kidnappers), you will discover that the drive for quick wealth will die. The quest will be gone, and our society will return to normalcy.
‘’Today, our boys don’t want to learn, or work. They don’t want to engage themselves in productive ventures. They think that school is a scam, and skill is a scam. All they just want is money. That is why they also die mysteriously’’ he said.
Meanwhile, another respondent, Pastor Tunde Ojeniran commended the crackdown on native doctors by both the Anambra State Government and the traditional ruler of Asaba. According to him, ‘’They have done the right thing by issuing a crackdown and the arrest of native doctors facilitating ritual killings because this is evil and a lot of lives are involved. Just last month, they were talking about a hotel in Anambra State that hosts guests and also kills them for ritual purposes.
‘’If they are not controlled, if they are not checked, it will be on the increase and many lives will go down, innocent lives will just go. A lot of people will die which is not good for our society and doesn’t give us a good reputation and that’s why you see that a lot of people are afraid of coming to Nigeria because you hear so many things including ritual killings and that has painted us bad before the international community.
‘The stigma is so much that when you tell people you are a Nigerian, they see you as a ritualist or a kidnapper. I think it is the right step and the right decision for the government to check the activities of these people. Last month, an Anambra lawmaker was killed. It is so embarrassing that a high-profile personality like that was slaughtered like an animal.
‘’The Asaba monarch has done well and this shows that he has his people in mind. He is concerned about his people and his environment, because like I said, no one has the right to kill another person. So, I think the king is acting from that point. It is not right for anybody to just wake up and kill another person and do what he likes and he goes free. So, the king’s decision is in the right direction too.
‘’As a clergyman, I support the king. Even in the Bible, we see the time that such kind of order was given to eliminate witches and wicked people in society. During the time of Saul, many of them left the activity and went into hiding. And that checked them, they were no longer functioning freely.
So, I think such kind of decision coming from a first-class traditional ruler is the right step, and I have more respect for the Asagba of Asaba for that. That’s the right decision, because we cannot have criminal elements in our society, and we just continue to allow them to walk free and do what they like. If there is no check, our society will become volatile, and all kinds of things will just continue to happen.
However, he feared of unknown consequences. ‘’We need to be praying also for the government and pray for the security men, because these men (native doctors), they are not just ordinary. So, we need to keep praying for the people who will be involved so that they will not attack them.
‘’As a church, we have a responsibility to be praying. Let’s pray for all the people who are involved, especially the security men, so that they can do their work well, and God will grant them help. We pray for them that they will not respond to the spell of these wicked men.
Again, we all need to police our environment together. We need to do it together. Work together. The law must be made strong and we must be responsible for policing the environment. We need to give necessary information that can help and with all this, I think we will be able to do something meaningful and important’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the lead pastor of the Royal Priesthood Divine Assembly in Asaba, Sam Onitiri said, ‘’If herbalists are involved in kidnapping, then they are bringing bad names to their vocation and the necessary actions should be taken against them.
‘’What irks me the most is the act of kidnapping itself. I think there should be a lasting remedy to such hideous crime. If there is no kidnapping, herbalists will not exist. The truth is that people are no longer content with what they have. A man’s life doesn’t consist of what he has but it seems a lot of persons don’t know this.
Some go to the extent of getting such money, sacrificing their own lives, or losing 20 years of their lives, mother or father. But, how did all those things come into our society? Before now, it wasn’t like this. People were content with what they had.
‘’I think the issue is lack of contentment. And it has affected parents. Then, when a child comes and says ‘I have bought a car’, the parents question how such a child bought the car. But now parents are asking their children to join others in doing such hideous acts. These are the problems we are facing, this is a lack of contentment, it has made people even deny the truth, I think that is the basic truth.
According to another respondent, Iheanacho Jude-David, ‘’Governor Soludo’s recent actions against fraudulent native doctors in Anambra State reflect a commendable commitment to addressing criminal activities masquerading under the guise of traditional practices. By targeting individuals who exploit cultural beliefs to perpetrate crimes such as providing charms for kidnappers and engaging in human sacrifices, the governor is taking steps to protect public safety and preserve the integrity of genuine traditional medicine peculiar to Igbo culture.
‘’It’s crucial to distinguish between authentic practitioners of traditional medicine and those who misuse these practices for illicit purposes. Governor Soludo has clarified that his administration’s crackdown is specifically aimed at “fake and devilish native doctors involved in criminal activities,” not at undermining the rich cultural heritage of traditional healing.
‘’The recent sealing of a controversial shrine in Okija, operated by a self-proclaimed native doctor promising unsuspecting individuals super wealth, exemplifies the government’s resolve to curb exploitative and illegal spiritual operations. While some may view this initiative as an attack on cultural practices, it’s essential to recognize that the primary objective is to eliminate elements that tarnish the reputation of traditional medicine and endanger societal well-being. By focusing on eradicating criminal activities associated with fraudulent native doctors, Governor Soludo’s administration is striving to create a safer environment and uphold the dignity of genuine traditional practices” he said.
From Prophet Jeremiah Onwuegbuzie, “The move (crackdown) is a way of God uprooting the evil of men to make sure that lights shine. Many have been in bondage due to the operation of Eze-Nwanyi and the rest. They are now becoming a stumbling block to the progress of innocent souls, bringing families into disasters and stagnation. But, God in his infinite mercy is using the people at the top to flush them away so that men can be free and live a better life” Prophet Onwuegbuzile said.
Another traditionalist, who spoke with our reporter in Asaba, Ogbueshi Nwabueze Onyeawena, said ‘’These native doctors are not practising religion but killing. They are killers. If it is religion that they are practicing why are they running from their homes? What they practice is evil that is what prompted their coming to Asaba. The Asagba and the entire community will not fold their hands and watch these killers invade our land we will keep chasing them anytime we see them around. He highlighted how dead bodies are found on the streets especially young girls with some parts of their bodies missing, stating ‘’It is the work of the native doctors and such has to stop. If they are doing the right thing why look for a hiding place in another man’s land?’’.
According to evangelist John Ekene, ‘’the Asagba made the right decision. After all, Asaba is not a land of shedding innocent blood. The Bible tells me that the blood of the innocent cries for vengeance like the blood of Abel. Asagba of Asaba is a man who fears God and is a lover of God. As the holy Bible says, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The king is a man of wisdom which is why he was able to decide on sending (native doctors) back.
