A long-standing and potentially violent land dispute between Isienu-Amagunze in Nkanu East Local Government Area and Ndiuno Akpugo in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State has been peacefully resolved by the Enugu State Boundary Committee.
The conflict, which nearly escalated into a bloodbath on December 11, 2024, followed allegations by residents of Isienu-Amagunze that Chief Uche Nnaji, Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, had encroached on their land under the pretext of executing a federal project.
According to them, the project was a renewed attempt to take over farmland that had been unsuccessfully claimed four years earlier.
Tensions had heightened when bulldozers invaded over six hectares of cassava and yam plantations owned by local farmers in Isienu-Amagunze.
However, swift intervention by the Enugu State Government prevented what could have been a bloody communal clash.
Fulfilling its promise to resolve the matter, the State Boundary Committee last weekend released its findings, affirming the demarcation between the two communities.
According to the committee’s report, “the boundary between both communities is the point demarcated by a seasonal stream known as the IYI – EZI stream bordering the Akpugo community and Isienu-Amagunze community,” which also serves as the current administrative boundary between Nkanu East and Nkanu West LGAs.
The announcement was made at the Government House, Enugu, in the presence of representatives from the disputing communities—Ndiuno-Uwani Akpugo, Ndiagu-Uwani Akpugo, and Isienu-Amagunze—as well as key government officials.
Among those present were the Commissioner for Chieftaincy, Local Government and Rural Development, Deacon Okey Ogbodo; representatives of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the State Surveyor General; Secretary of the Committee, Barr. Solomon Ejim; and the Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Ikechukwu Asadu (Igwe Ogadagidi).
Reacting to the decision, Hon. Anthony Okey Mbah, who represents Nkanu East Constituency in the State House of Assembly, praised the verdict, stating that it “aligns with the position of the Isienu-Amagunze community to the boundary committee as to where the true boundary is”.
Mbah noted that the ruling contradicted the claim by the Akpugo community, which argued that the boundary should lie beyond the Nkanu East Local Government headquarters at the Atavu River.
The lawmaker, who spoke on behalf of the traditional ruler, town union executives, and other stakeholders of Isienu-Amagunze, expressed deep appreciation to Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for what he described as the “historic resolution” of a decades-long boundary conflict.
He further emphasised “the swift intervention of the state government had averted what could have resulted in a bloody communal conflict between the two neighbouring communities.”
A civil society group, the Economic and Social Empowerment of Rural Communities (ESERC), has launched a task force to end the prevalence of gender-based violence(GBV) in Enugu State.
The group, which launched the taskforce during a project titled, “Breaking the Cycle of Gender-Based Violence: Survivor-Centered Services and Community Engagement in Enugu State” on Thursday, said the intervention followed the rising cases of the challenge in the state.
Executive director of ESERC, Ikechukwu Nwaogu, who addressed newsmen during the programme, said the intervention was being implemented with support from the French Embassy Fund for Civil Society (FEF-OSC).
The project, he said, aims to reduce the incidence of gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices in Enugu State through specific goals.
While lamenting the high prevalence of GBV cases in Enugu State, Nwaogu noted that poverty, limited access to services, and entrenched cultural practices were among the factors increasing vulnerability to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the state.
He added that 31% of women aged 15-49 in southeastern Nigeria have experienced physical or sexual violence, according to the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, stating that only a fraction of these cases were ever reported due to fear of stigma, cultural norms that silence survivors, and limited access to justice and support services.
He however commended the state government for taking an important step forward in addressing these challenges, by inaugurating the Enugu State GBV Steering Committee, chaired by the Honorable Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih.
“The establishment of the Steering Committee is a significant milestone in building the political will, policy alignment, and inter-ministerial cooperation needed to confront GBV effectively.\
“Our project is designed to complement and strengthen these government-led efforts by creating a synergy between the Steering Committee at the policy level and the GBV Taskforce and Community Advocacy Groups (CAGs) at the operational and community levels,” he said.
The executive director further disclosed that the GBV taskforce would serve as the frontline operational mechanism, able to go directly into communities, track cases, and maintain open lines of communication with the public through IEC materials listing their contact numbers.
He added that by working in concert with the Steering Committee, the taskforce would ensure that policy directives are implemented on the ground, survivors are reached early, and no one is left behind.
Among other goals, he stated that the project would facilitate training and deploying Community Advocacy Groups (CAGs) to raise awareness, drive behavior change, and link survivors to services; improving access to medical, psychosocial, legal, and referral services for survivors and exonomically empowering selected most vulnerable GBV survivors, including women living with HIV, women with disabilities, and girls orphaned by AIDS.
The Vice President Africa Taekwondo Union and a and a member of the LOC for the 2026 COAL CITY GAMES, Chief Jonathan Nnaji, has asserted that hosting the 23rd National Sports Festival will enhance sports development, improve and upgrade of sporting facilities in Enugu state.
Speaking after the inauguration of the LOC for COALCITY GAMES Nnaji who is also an Executive member of the Nigeria Olmypic Committee, and Vice President Nigeria Penthalon Federation , expressed happiness with the commitment of Governor Peter Ndubuisi, towards sports development, noting, that it is the second time a South – Eastern State will be hosting National Sports Festival.
He said:”The event will boost the economy of the State, increase revenue , boost tourism , hospitality industry, improve infrastructure and talent development. Just as I said, the Governor has been emphasizing on moving from #4 billion revenue to $30 billion. It will also promote national unity and integration through sports.
” It is an opportunity for Enugu state to promote it’s tourism and culture.
It is going to expose Enugu as potential in international event hosting and collaboration.
” Enugu hosting the festival can have lasting impact on infrastructure and sport culture,, apart from winning medals.
” I am excited being an indigene of Enugu State, my State having a sports loving Governor, ” he noted.
Nnaji further stated that one year is long enough time to upgrade and host a successful festival.
” I believe that 1 year is enough. We have to work hard, do extra-miles to achieve great results. I believe that with the kind of team we have and the Governor, heavens will be our limit,’ he continued.”When we say we are going to host to win, we will look for our best athletes who will give us results.
“The Commissioner is a vibrant young man who listens to ideas. I think Enugu is going to be the best.”
Stakeholders from Amankpaka community, Ugwuogo Nike, Enugu East local government area, and Enugu State have declared the recent judgement of the Enugu High Court saved them from avoidable crisis.
They were reacting to the appellate judgement of the court in suit No. CME/288/2021 between Chief Festus Oguegbe v. Hon. Gab Onu & 5Ors.
The matter was a dispute between the Chief Festus Oguegbe Anieto and Hon. Gab Onu & 5Or on perpetuation of Hon Gab Onu on the community’s power of Attorney.
An Enugu magistrate court in Enugu South magisterial district presided over by Hon. I.M. Mamah had earlier tried the matter and dismissed it on what he called lack of locus by the plaintiff.
It resulted in an appeal by Chief Oguegbe to the Enugu State High Court which had an appellate jurisdiction on the matter.
The Appellant, who is the General Secretary of Amankpaka community Ugwogo Nike General Assembly, had sought at the trial court the following reliefs against the Defendants/Respondents:
“A declaration that the purported move by the defendants to constitute by themselves, agents, privies by proxy a new and fresh Members of Amankpaka Community Power of Attorney without recourse to the Elders in Council and the General Assembly of Amankpaka as required by the Constitution of Amankpaka is unlawful.
“An order of perpetual Injunction restraining the defendants by themselves, privies, Agents and or by any person(s) acting on their behalf from constituting a fresh and or new members of power of Attorney in Amankpaka Community against the provisions of the Constitution of Amankpaka Community, and
“An order of this honourable court directing the defendants to respect and give effect to the tenet and the provisions of the Constitution of Amankpaka Community Ugwuogo Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, more particularly, as it relates to the appointment and reconstitution of the new and fresh members of Amankpaka Community Power of Attorney.”
However, the High Court of Enugu State, presided by Hon. Justice R. N. Orji after hearing the appeal, set aside the judgment of the trial court which it categorically stated had no jurisdiction to hear the matter “abinitio”.
In the court judgement delivered on the 23rd day of June, 2025, the court granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff/appellant, asking the respondent to abide by the dictates of the law.
Speaking on the victory, David Chibuzo Ugwuede, who spoke on behalf of the community leaders, applauded the decision of the High court for saving the community from an unconstitutional and legal emasculation that would have plunged the community into crisis.
He said: “There’s a ray of light and hope coming into the community and the people are hopeful that there’s going to be a light at the end of the tunnel”.
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have resumed attacks in Mgbuji community, Eha-Amufu town in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, killing four people in the community.
It was gathered from community sources that the attack occured on Monday with the farmers attacked in their settlement.
A community leader, Ogenyi Samuel, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday, informed that three bodies were recovered hours after the incident on Monday with the remaining body found on Tuesday.
He identified the victims as Izuchukwu Uzu, Daniel Ogbodo, Isaiah Odo, and one other person, whose father’s name is Emmanuel Eze.
The community leader lamented the members of the community, particularly the farmers, were tired of the frequent but unprovoked attacks and killings.
“We are tired and despondent. The government only mobilises security agents after every attack to collect corpses, but they don’t do anything to prevent the attacks or engage the assailants,” Samuel told newsmen on telephone.
On what led to the renewed attack, the community leader simply said that the victims went to their farms and were attacked and killed.
It was learnt before the latest attack, the herders last Friday attacked another person on the same farm and took his motorcycle, while he escaped with deep machete wounds.
Enugu Police spokesman SP Daniel Ndukwe, did not respond to enquiries when contacted.
A team of security operatives, led by the Divisional Police Officer of Igbo-Eze South local government area in Enugu State, has raided an ongoing church building and recovered a human skull in the process.
The structure, named Synagogue, belongs to one Prophet Chinedu Solomon Ezedike who is allegedly linked to the heartbreaking murder of four little siblings.
Four children were weeks back gruesomely murdered in the council area, attracting outrage from Enugu people and beyond.
Following the incident, the structure where the incident occurred was immediately demolished by the government.
But to further probe the pastor’s activities, the government widened its scope to his other properties, leading to the latest discovery.
Chairman of Igbo-Eze South Local government area, Barr Ferdinand Ukwueze, confirmed this in a post on his Facebook page, Monday.
He said: “Two days ago, yet in the course of combing locations reasonably suspected to be solitary sites and camps of divers shades of criminal activities, acting on intelligence, I visited a site at Abile Hill, Isi-Agu, Ibagwa-Aka, in the company of the Divisional Police Officer of Igbo-Eze South, and other security operatives.
“The location, currently being used for the construction of Prophet Chinedu Ezedike’s so-called Synagogue, was discovered to be a suspected site for ritual activities.
“To our greatest dismay, a human skull and a ritual staff were discovered from the site, lending further credence to the disturbing and tragic circumstances surrounding the claims and allegations against Ezedike. The recovered items were duly handed over to the Police for further examination as investigations continue.
“More of these hidden locations will be discovered and visited, as we remain relentless in our pursuit against all forms of criminality in our Local Government Area.
“I reassure you; under the administration of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, there will be no hiding place for crimes of any form. We are pursuing an egalitarian society where sons and daughters of Enugu State can aspire and become anything of their choices legitimately without any fear of criminal molestation.
“I deeply appreciate the coordinated support of the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), the Military, the gallant men of Igbo-Eze South Neighbourhood Watch, the Forest Guards, and all well-meaning individuals who have provided intelligence and cooperation over the past weeks.
“Society will keep deteriorating when good people keep mute in the face of crime.
“Together, we must protect our land.”
In an earlier post, Ukwueze confirmed the demolition of the pastor’s building.
“We stood with the good people of Ibagwa-Aka as we demolished the stronghold of Prophet Chinedu Solomon Ezedike who is linked to the heartbreaking murder of four innocent siblings.
“This is a clear message from the administration of His Excellency, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah that Criminals have no hiding place in Enugu State!
“Let the world know! Igbo-Eze South will no longer tolerate evil in any form.”
The planned visit of the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, to Enugu State today (Monday), has set the state agog, as major streets in the state capital are adorned with her pictures and colourful lamp post banners.
Also, goodwill messages by the First Lady of the State, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah; wives of chairmen of Local Government Councils, various women organisations, youth associations, community-based groups, among others, are blaring on various radio stations.
The First Lady is scheduled to arrive in Enugu today for a two-day working visit during which she will distribute 10,000 professional kits to healthcare workers in the state, palliatives to the less privileged, and also commission the state-of-the-art Technical, Vocational Education, and Training College, GTC, Enugu.
Mrs. Mbah’s message reads in part, “It gives me great pleasure to welcome our dear First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, on her two-day official visit to Enugu State from 9th to 10th June, 2025.
“During the visit, Her Excellency will distribute professional kits to healthcare workers; launch the Free to Shine Triple Elimination Campaign against HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis; distribute palliatives to the vulnerable in the state as well as commission the brand new Science, Technical and Vocational School, GTC, Enugu, built by the Government of Enugu State.”
Ahead of the visit, Governor Peter Mbah has also published a message to welcome Mrs. Tinubu on behalf of the Government, while also appreciating the First Lady for her partnership with the state.
The recent discovery of a ritualist dungeon in Umumbaa Ndiagu community in Ezeagu area of Enugu State sent shock waves across the country as to the extent some revered individuals are soiling their hands just to belong among the rich in the society, DAMIAN DURUIHEOMA reports .
Enugu, the Coal City state, has of late been in the news for the wrong reasons. In what could easily pass as a scene from a horror film, a ritual dungeon was discovered in Ezeagu area of the state.
This den, where unspeakable horrors have been committed, has a pit where captives used for rituals were dumped after vital organs had been taken out of their bodies. The pit is situated newr a shrine manned by a self acclaimed native doctor, High Chief Levi Onyeka Obu, popularly known as “Ezeani” or “E-Dey-Play-E-Dey-Show” in his own compound.
Inside Ezeani’s compound were his two uncompleted mansions where his clients trooped into his shrine.
In one of his video adverts, seen by our correspondent, Ezeani said he could make people rich, give husbands ladies seeking for one and children to the baren through a deity he called ‘Akpugo Ezenwaya’.
In most of his videos, the native doctor either frequently showed himself blessing exotic vehicles some of his clients brought for his blessing or himself with big cows brought to him by some of his clients for appreciation of ‘good work done’. However, none of his said beneficiaries ever appeared in his videos.
With these, he had lots of clients, who regularly consulted his shrine for various issues, especially quick money, husband for ladies and child bearing for married women.
Widely known as Ichie Million because of his flamboyant lifestyle, Ezeani’s ostentatious display of wealth and frequent spraying of bundles of money at public functions always drew crowds of youthful admirers to such events.
He belonged to some social clubs, including the one he was sometimes seen appearing in all red attire with a scary drawing of human skeleton on its back.
Ezeani is a recipient of several awards, including a recent one given to him by Ndi Gboo Voice Newspaper and Magazine, Awka, Anambra State, in his house.
Ezeani’s victims were mainly women, young girls and little children, judging from the different human bodies found in his compound. Most of his victims hailed from Umumbaa Ndiagu community, its neighbours and their environs in Ezeagu area.
His mode of operation, it was gathered, was to use human beings for rituals and dump their remains inside a soak away pit he covered well for this purpose.
And Ezeani was alleged not to be operating alone; he worked together with some men whose duty was to abduct people he would use as sacrifice for his clients, most of whom were young men driving exotic cars.
Ezeagu’s alleged den of horror was tucked inside the sleepy Umumba Ndiagu community in Ezeagu Local Government Area, Enugu, a wilderness of sort, not far from the community centre populated by natives. The scenario makes it all so unbelievable that such a camp could operate even for a day without the inhabitants of the community knowing.
Ezeani’s suspected ritual activities were busted after a 13-year-old girl was abducted and rescued from his compound by some youths and vigilante operatives in the community.
The child’s abduction, according to village sources, was perfected through deception. She was said to be accompanying her father to the farm when two men posing as stranded motorcyclists deceived the girl’s father by pleading with him to let them use his machete to repair their motorcycle.
Seeing their situation, the man decided to help, but they abducted his daughter right before him and sped off to an unknown destination. The man’s cry of anguish attracted villagers, who immediately joined in the search for the little girl.
The incident occurred on Monday, May 26 while the search for the hapless girl continued into the following day. It was while search was on that some villagers reported hearing cries from a bush near the compound of a native doctor. The vigilante team, sensing that something was amiss, stormed the premises, against Ezeani’s thunderous orders that nobody should enter his compound. There and then it was discovered that the child they were looking for was kept inside the soak away pit in Ezeani’s compound. The grim sight led to more shocking discoveries of decapitated bodies inside the same soak away pit.
Among the numerous other bodies recovered was that of a missing student said to be of the community’s secondary school, who was part of the candidates writing the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASCE).
The girl was said to have left her school after sitting one of her papers two weeks ago but could not get home to her parents. There was also a pregnant woman whose body was yet to become fully decomposed. These victims had their bodies mutilated beyond recognition.
The discovery threw the community into shock, prompting the youths into a frenzy of anger to the point that they began to attack and burn his house, while Ichie Million, their once respected kinsman, escaped.
He was, however, arrested two days later at the Seme Border while attempting to escape into the Republic of Benin. He was said to have been identified and apprehended by a gallant Immigration officer, Prince Orji Ugochukwu, who rejected N10 million offer to let the native doctor off the hook.
The victim’s story
In a viral video recorded after she was rescued, the 13-year-old victim recalled before the anxious villagers: “My father and I went to fetch firewood, which we would use to fry our garri. His men came and asked my dad for his cutlass, which he gave them.
“Suddenly, they grabbed me and kept me in a pit they had dug. I then started crying and the Neighborhood Watch operatives heard my cry and came to rescue me.”
The state government also finished off what remained of the mansions by demolishing them in line with the extant laws of the state against the use of one’s building for kidnapping and other nefarious activities.
The following day, students said to be of the community’s secondary school, took to the streets in protest against the missing student, whose remains were among those reportedly found in the native doctor’s pit.
Villagers speak
Villagers, who spoke to BBC Pidgin, said the native doctor had returned from Togo where he claimed he was doing his business.
One of them said: “Suddenly, he started building a house. We were actually thinking he had made money. We never knew he came home to do uncanny business with human blood.
“I can tell you that all we knew about him was that he is a native doctor. He used to shoot local canon guns, which we all thought was to send his message usually at midnights. We never knew he was a killer.”
Another villager described Ezeani as a very strong juju man, who used his influence to forcibly take people’s lands.
“People were beginning to be afraid of him because of his growing influence as a rich man and a medicine man.
“So, anyone who had land dispute with him, someone found a way to let it go,” the villager said.
Ezeani’s accomplices
According to the police, three persons connected to the crime were arrested, namely Uche Kingsley Agumba (33), Ilo Nweze Onyedikachi (36) and Ejike Odinwankpa (38).
Agumba is a well known furniture maker in Aba, Abia State. Those who know him closely said he does not play with religious activities as a Christian. It was gathered that he was regularly visiting Enugu for the popular ‘Adoration’ religious programme.
He was seen in the video stripped naked with tied hands and feet while the youths went about burning and destroying all structures in the compound.
He, however, denied involvement in the killings, but he was said to have admitted frequenting the native doctor’s residence for ritual purposes.
The suspect explained during interrogation by the angry youths: “I am a business person and I came here. After I finished performing some sacrifices, it remained for a water sacrifice to be performed for me.
“I was waiting for everything to be done for me. There are things to be done but I don’t know what he used to do the things.
“But what they do here is that as a newcomer, they normally send the person on an errand.
“The owner of this place, Daddy Ezeani, asked me to protect this place and scare anyone coming here away.”
Writing about the suspect on Facebook, one of the men who grew up with him, Victor Kaycee, expressed shock that Agumba could be identified with such a business.
He wrote: “A few days ago, I came across a video that shook me to the core. It was about one of the accomplices of that Enugu native doctor who was recently arrested for ritual killings.
“To my shock, the name mentioned was Uche Kingsley, popularly known as Agumba—a name I’ve known for years.
“At first, I wasn’t sure it was the same Uche I knew. The name, the nickname, the location—it all sounded too familiar. But I brushed it off. I told myself it must be someone else.
“After all, the Uche I knew was a deeply religious man, someone who never missed church programmes and was even known to travel from Aba to Enugu for special Catholic events.
“He was one of those people who would question your faith if you missed church. He often challenged me for not being as “serious” with religion as he was.
“But when I watched the video again and heard that the man dealt in furniture materials at Ariaria, Aba—it hit me. I knew this Uche. This was the same guy I once shared memories with.
“Out of curiosity and concern, I searched for him online. And when I saw his pictures, my heart dropped. It was truly him—Uche Agumba.
“We go way back. Uche served a man from Uga, Anambra State and I remember when he got settled around 2011 or 2012 after serving for seven years.
:We were all young men trying to make it. I recall one particular day we returned from Port Harcourt, and he said to me, ‘before I get married, I must be a very wealthy man.’
“I reminded him that he was the only son of his parents. He nodded and said I know—but this is what I must do.
“Everyone who was in the building materials line at Ariaria back then knew Uche. From 2005 to 2011 to 2013, and now. We trained together at Osusu Primary School field before I moved out of Aba.
“I can’t remember him ever missing church. He was deeply involved in religious activities—chartering buses to Enugu weekly, buying and selling bottles of anointed water and yoghurt after the programmes.
“I checked his Facebook recently—he still shares posts from those same church programmes.
“What breaks my heart is the double life he was living. I called a friend in Ariaria to confirm, and he told me it was true—Uche is the one.
“He also said Uche is still religious. The same church stickers are all over his shop, his car, and even his house. It’s like he never stopped pretending.
“I’m not here to judge, but this has left me shaken. Someone we knew, someone we trained with, someone we thought stood for God—now exposed as a ritualist and kidnapper?”
Speaking with our correspondent, a public affairs analyst, Dan Ukwu, said this heinous act is not an isolated incident but part of a growing pattern of bloodshed fuelled by a dangerous obsession with instant wealth and power.
He said the current culture of impunity that has permeated every aspect of the Nigerian society had encouraged the evil and would likely remain with us for a long time to come.
“Politicians and other state officials are merciless in their looting of the treasury. They amass wealth without fear of discovery even as their ostentatious and extravagant lifestyle seems to mock the relevance of the many anti-corruption agencies that populate our country, daring them to discover the source of their stolen wealth if they could.
“Kidnappers are no less brazen: they stay on the highways, abduct as many people as they can and rape as many as suits their fancy.
“And the ritual killers? They pick their victims in broad daylight, push them into vehicles and carry them away in the presence of eager onlookers without anyone asking questions.
“Some of these traders in human merchandise go about their business under the pretext of being mentally unbalanced. Which leaves one wondering what people wouldn’t do just to get by”.
Proffering solution to the ritual killing and activities, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Kelly Odaro, said addressing this crisis requires more than just police crackdowns or demolition of the suspects’ buildings.
In one of his articles, Odaro called for a fundamental shift in societal values —one that prioritises ethical wealth over ill-gotten riches, adding that religious institutions, traditional rulers, and community leaders must take a firm stand against the glorification of questionable affluence.
“Until society collectively condemns and rejects wealth acquired through bloodshed, such horrors will persist, leaving a trail of innocent victims in their wake.
“Once upon a time, wealth in Nigerian society was synonymous with industry, resilience, and ingenuity. The elders of old (traders, craftsmen, farmers, and entrepreneurs) prided themselves on the sweat of their brows. A man’s affluence was a direct reflection of his diligence and years of toil.
“Today, however, a corrosive paradigm has taken root, one that glorifies instant affluence, irrespective of the means through which it is obtained. The insidious doctrine of “making it by any means necessary” has replaced the time-honoured principle of hard work.
“This paradigm shift is not accidental. It is the consequence of a deeply flawed value system where wealth, no matter how dubiously acquired, commands reverence.
“The very individuals who should be ostracised for their morally reprehensible conduct are, instead, venerated. This toxic culture emboldens desperate youth to explore even the most abhorrent means to attain affluence.
“The most disheartening aspect of this trend is the complicity (both tacit and overt) of society’s supposed moral gatekeepers. Religious leaders, who should be the custodians of righteousness, have too often become enablers of corruption.
“In the grandiose edifices of faith, where the gospel of prosperity is preached with fervour, those with questionable sources of wealth are celebrated.
“They are given front-row seats, called upon for prayers, and sometimes elevated to positions of religious leadership, all because their ill-gotten wealth fuels the construction of mega worship centres.
“Traditional rulers, the custodians of Nigeria’s cultural ethos, are equally culpable. The hallowed institution of chieftaincy, once reserved for men of impeccable character, has been commercialised.
“Titles that once symbolised honour are now available to the highest bidder. The affluent, irrespective of their moral standing, are conferred with chieftaincy titles in elaborate ceremonies attended by society’s crème de la crème.
“In many instances, these so-called ‘chiefs’ are known for their nefarious dealings, yet they are paraded as paragons of success.
“The elite, politicians, and corporate magnates are not innocent either. Many continue to patronise, endorse, and associate with individuals whose wealth bears the stench of blood money.
“By doing so, they lend credibility to criminality and normalise the abnormal.
“When men who are rumoured to have amassed their fortunes through dark means are invited to state functions, given government contracts, or honoured in grand events, the message to the struggling youth is clear — wealth, regardless of its origin, is the ultimate measure of success”.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has forwarded an Executive Bill to the State House of Assembly aimed at curbing criminal activities linked to native doctors, herbalists, and similar practitioners.
The proposed law, titled “Maintenance of Internal Security, Vigilance and Order,” seeks to outlaw money rituals, locally known as okite, as well as criminal bulletproof charms, commonly referred to as odeshi. It also prohibits the illegal occupation of forests and properties for criminal purposes.
Under Section 3 (1) of the bill, all individuals offering spiritual services in the state, whether as native doctors, herbalists, spiritualists, chief priests, diviners, or seers, must register with a designated state ministry, department, or agency.
Failure to comply with the registration requirement will attract a fine ranging from N1 million to N5 million, a two-year prison term, or both.
Section 15 of the proposed legislation provides, “Any person who, under the guise of spiritual or traditional practice (including but not limited to the practices commonly referred to as ‘okite’, ‘ezenwanyi’, or any other mystical or ritual name/form) administers or causes to be administered any charm, substance, or object on or for another person, for the purpose of: (a) invincibility and other forms of protection to facilitate the commission of any criminal offence; or (b) acquiring wealth or benefits by supernatural means outside any lawful means of livelihood, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of six (6) years or to a fine of not less than five million naira (N5,000,000), or both.
“Any person, who falsely claims to possess supernatural powers or misleads the public into believing so, for the purpose of gaining reward, or influence (whether financially or otherwise) commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of three (3) years or to a fine of not less than three million naira (N3,000,000), or both.”
It further provides that where a person claims spiritual powers under this law, “the burden shall lie on such a person, during investigation, to provide reasonable proof of the purported supernatural abilities claimed.”
In the same vein, Section 16 prescribes six years of imprisonment or a fine of N5 million or both against anyone, who uses or knowingly permits the use of any religious place, for the commission or facilitation of a crime, in addition to sealing of the facility pending the outcome of investigation.
Section 17 stipulates that “Any person who performs, facilitates, demands, directs, or participates in any ritual or traditional practice involving the use of human parts, or who causes another person to do so, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of twenty (20) years without the option of a fine.”
Under Section 13, “Any person found in a camp, bush, or forest within Enugu State without any reasonable or lawful cause, and under circumstances giving rise to reasonable suspicion of involvement in any criminal activity, shall be promptly handed over to the Nigeria Police Force or any competent security agency for proper investigation in accordance with the law.”
On the use of forests and property for banditry and kidnapping, the Bill proposes, “Any person who owns, occupies, or has control over any land or building, whether located in a forest or elsewhere, and knowingly allows it to be used as a camp, hideout, or base for kidnapping, the unlawful detention of victims, the collection of ransom, or for any other activity connected to kidnapping or banditry, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of twenty (20) years without the option of a fine.”
Also, any person, who knowingly allows any person, who is not a member of the nation’s security agencies to reside, camp, or establish any form of settlement on his or her land, except for farming, is liable on conviction to two-year imprisonment without an option of fine.
Any person who knowingly fails to report suspicious use of their property, and fails to report the same to the security agencies “commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of two (2) years without the option of a fine.”
“Subject to the provisions of Section 3 of the Criminal Code (Second Amendment) Law 2016, any land, property, or structure used in contravention of Sections 7, 8, 9 and 10 of this Law shall be forfeited to the Government of Enugu State,” the Bill further provides.
Again, money, property, and other proceeds of theft, robbery, kidnapping, among others are to be forfeited to the Enugu State Government, unless a lawful and verifiable owner claims it within a reasonable time.
The Bill equally makes it mandatory for private security outfits to register with the State Government, providing the particulars of the outfit and all armed security operatives employed or deployed by them, while all presidents-general of town unions are to submit security reports to local government council chairmen or any other department designated by the government not later than the first week of every new month.
In the same vein, landlords and proprietors of hotels, guest houses, and estate associations are demanded by the Bill to obtain and transmit valid means of identification, phone number, occupation, and place of work of their prospective tenants and guests to the relevant authority.
Proprietors of hotels and other lodging facilities shall install a surveillance camera within public areas to record and submit records of activities to relevant authorities.
Penalties for contravention of this provision range from a fine of not less than N500,000 for landlords to N1 million.
A Federal High Court sitting in Enugu has ordered a former Minister for information, Chief Frank Nweke Jnr and two other members of the Ishi-Ozalla Community in Nkanu West local government area of Enugu State to pay N5 million as general damages for excommunicating and ostracising Mr. Christian Uzochukwu and tagging Edeaniagu village of the community as non-indigenes.
The court also ordered the respondents to write to the applicant a public apology in a national daily as a result of their actions.
The fine was as a result of a suit against Sir Willy Chukwuani, Christopher Nwanyanwu and Chief Frank Nweke Jnr., by Mr. Christian Uzochukwu of Edeaniagu village in Ishi-Ozalla Community, with No: FHC/EN/CS/40/2023.
In the suit, Uzochukwu challenged the continuous shaming, beating, taunting, scornfully jeering at, booing and embarrassment, the tagging and or branding of the applicant and his entire Edeaniagu Village as non indigenes and or outcasts, slaves, descendants of slaves and non- free born, serfs, strangers and resident non indigenes of Ishi-Ozalla, by Sir Willy Chukwuani and Christopher Nwanyanwu on the instigation of Chief Frank Nweke Jnr.
Uzochukwu insisted that the actions of the respondents amounted to an infraction of the applicant’s right of dignity to his human person and freedom from discrimination as enshrined in Sections 34 and 46 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) and Articles 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights”.
In a judgement order by the presiding judge, Justice M. G. Umar on May 21, 2025, the court declared the actions of the respondents as infringement of the applicant’s right of freedom from discrimination.
“That a declaration is further made that the excommunication and ostracisation of the applicant and his entire Edeaniagu village by the respondents is an infringement of the applicant’s right of freedom from discrimination as enshrined in Section 46 (1) and (21 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) and Articles 5. 6 And 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.
“That the sum of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira only) being amount for general and exemplary damages suffered by the applicant as a result of excommunication and ostracization of the applicant and his entire Edeaniagu village by the respondents.
“That the Respondents shall write to the applicant a public apology in a national daily,” the judgement read.
The court further granted an order restraining the respondents either by themselves, agents, privies, servants or anybody whatsoever from further executing the excommunication and ostracisation of the applicant and his entire Edeaniagu village.
The excommunication and ostracisation in 2021 prevented the preferred traditional ruler candidate,Prince Don Sylvester Chinedu Nweke from participating in the Ishi-Ozalla Igweship election.
