A group of male and female native doctors, under the Association of Herbal Medicine Practitioners of Anambra State, have staged a protest at the Anambra State Government House, Agu-Awka, to speak out against alleged extortion and harassment by the Anambra State Homeland Security Squad, also known as Agunaechemba.
The leader of the association, Dr. Zulike Chinwuba, while addressing representatives of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, said native medicine practice is not a secret activity. He explained that the protesters are legitimate practitioners, not ritualists.
“We are genuine native doctors, not ritualists. We do not support those who perform sacrifices on roads and water bodies. It is wrong and pollutes the environment,” Chinwuba said.
He further accused some town union presidents-general and local council leaders of using force to collect money from them, demanding amounts ranging from N30,000 to N300,000.
Another member of the group, Innocent Okwundu, also known as Igwe Njima of Mbaukwu, revealed that some town union leaders have ordered native doctors to register with them before they can practice.
He announced that an agreement had been reached with the government to form a task force of male and female native doctors to inspect shrines and confirm their activities.
Okwundu warned that any shrine found engaging in rituals like Awele, Ibobo, Uduakomili, or Okeite (money rituals) would be shut down, and those involved would face prosecution.
He condemned the alleged harassment of Dr. Abel Chijioke Okpalaobi, the Nkwo Akpo shrine keeper, who was accused of being a ritualist.
“Native medicine practitioners have a constitutional right to freedom of worship. It is wrong for government agents to harass us while Christian clergy are left alone,” Okwundu stated.
He also accused some town union leaders of trying to seize shrine lands, saying Okpalaobi resisted the move, which led to his blackmail.
Okpalaobi expressed sadness over the demolition of the Nkwo Akpo shrine, which he said cost N4.6 million to build. He denied claims that he took communal land, stating that the shrine, located near the market, has been there for generations and is home to the community’s goddess and other deities.
In response, Governor Soludo, through his Chief of Staff, Ernest Ezeajughi, and the Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Don Onyenji, assured the protesters that the profiling of native medicine practitioners is meant to identify and remove bad actors.
Ezeajughi explained that Agunaechemba’s activities are backed by state laws, aimed at tracking native doctors who make charms used for crimes like kidnapping and armed robbery.
“The profiling is to separate genuine native doctors from those aiding criminals. We want to work with you to make Anambra safe,” Ezeajughi said.
