There are palpable fears within the ranks of native doctors and traditional medicine practitioners in Anambra State, particularly within the Ojoto community, headquarters of the Idemili South Local Council, following the arrest of non-registered and uncertified practitioners.

The yet-to-be-identified spiritualists and actors had on Monday, January 6, gone to strategic locations in the community to perform some rituals against the initial directive of the community?s traditional ruler, Igwe Gerald Mbamalu.

The activities of these unknown spiritualists were however truncated midway as one of their leaders, identified simply as Ejike Muokwe was arrested by police operatives from Zone 13 Ukpo.

Others, including Emmanuel Okonta, are now said to have taken to their heels, while others retreated the moment news filtered into the community that security operatives had moved in to effect their arrest.

Chairman of Native Medicine Practitioners in Ojoto, Chief Anthony Uzokwe, accused the ?medicine men? of invading the community?s sacred shrines/groves, locations and centres.

He added that the characters were unknown to the native doctors, the law or the community.

He tendered their registration/certification by Idemili South Local Council and the State Government, as well as their formal identity cards. Hence all the practitioners in Ojoto were duly registered and officially accredited.

?Shockingly, these uncertified persons jolted Ojoto residents who woke to observe they had invaded all our sacred groves, shrines, streams, and centres performing some disturbing ritualistic acts and incantations.

?These, we gathered, were in the process of spiritual cleansing of the community,? he said.

Uzokwe pointed out that the unknown elements had days earlier stormed the community with a terse message through a town crier of their plans to embark on spiritual cleansing at strategic locations.

The development, according to him, was strange as Otu Omenana Ojoto, a body of government-registered, accredited and certified native doctors was not informed or aware of such an important event.

Uzokwe noted that ?we are the custodians of such matters, the sacred locations/shrines and calendar in Ojoto.

?There was no misunderstanding amongst us or disagreement or meeting where such an issue was discussed or planned.?

An official of the practitioners, Chief Ifeanyichukwu Anadi, also expressed concern that the issue has lingered, ?especially when we assembled publicly before all Ojoto citizens to take the oath of clean, transparent and healthy practice. Most of the people doing this ran away and refused the public oath?

Another member, Sunday Okonkwo bemoaned the unknown bunch, lamenting the seeming tacit support by the community leadership.

He urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to wade into the matter immediately to stop it from festering.

When approached for comments, the Senior Police officer who led the operations from Zone 13, Ukpo said that it was too early. ?We are still investigating. The media and the public would be briefed appropriately in due time?

The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Ikenga Tochukwu said he was yet to be briefed on the matter. (The Guardian)

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