Law Mefor, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, has addressed the recent comments made by Governor Chukwuma Soludo regarding a crackdown on native doctors, emphasizing that the initiative specifically targets “fake” practitioners involved in illicit activities, rather than authentic traditional healers.
This clarification comes in the wake of growing anxiety among native and traditional healers in the state following Soludo’s remarks during a recent event. The governor had criticized certain native doctors for their complicity in criminal actions, including the creation of charms for kidnappers and armed robbers.
In a press release, Mefor asserted that the governor’s intention is to cleanse the practice of traditional medicine and to expose those exploiting it for illegal purposes. He reassured legitimate practitioners that the government acknowledges and values their positive contributions to society.
He elaborated, “To dispel the misinformation that has emerged from various quarters regarding Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s position on native doctors, I want to clarify that he has not declared war on all native doctors. Instead, his focus is on those fraudulent and malevolent practitioners engaged in criminal activities.”
Mefor highlighted that numerous individuals and organizations have been investigating the activities of certain native doctors in the South-East, uncovering alarming evidence that aligns with the governor’s statements.
He continued, “Certain native doctors have been implicated in providing charms for kidnappers and robbers, and their practices may involve sinister rituals, including human sacrifices, for wealth and protection. Such troubling activities have led to the resurgence of harmful practices like ‘Ego Mbute,’ ‘Oke-Ite,’ and ‘Yahoo Plus,’ along with idolatry, which threaten the fabric of our Igbo cultural life. Governor Soludo, out of a sense of duty and responsiveness, is committed to eradicating these malevolent practices, which have nothing to do with the true essence of traditional medicine or the genuine native doctors dedicated to serving the community and the divine.”
