To ensure that native doctors and other suspicious elements dislodged from Anambra State in the wake of recent successes of Agunechemba security outfit do not find haven in Imo State, the Traditional Rulers Council (TRC) has ordered all non-indigenous witchdoctors to leave the state.
The TRC further directed that all shrines and altars built by such non-native traditionalists should be demolished, stressing that it is forbidden for such persons to pour libations and do incantations on a land whose gods can’t accept considering their status as stranger elements.
The Council explained that the decision was taken to rid Imo State of criminal elements.
The order was made by the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers in a communiqué issued after its emergency meeting held at the Ezeimo Palace, the seat of the Council in Owerri, the state capital.
In the communiqué jointly signed by the TRC Chairman, His Royal Majesty, Eze (Dr) E.C Okeke, the three deputy chairmen: His Royal Majesty, Eze Iheanacho Ndukwe (Okigwe Zone), His Royal Majesty, Eze T.A Obiefule (Orlu Zone), His Royal Majesty, Eze Engr Fredrick Nwachukwu (Owerri Zone) and the 27 chairmen of TRCs in the 27 local government areas of Imo State, the Council directed that every indigenous native doctor should come with the monarchs of the communities where they reside, to confirm such profession/practice and also register appropriately register with the Council of Ndi-Eze through the Committee on Culture and Traditions after being identified by both the chairmen of the LGA and the local TRC.
The communiqué stated in part: “That all communities in Imo State are to immediately implement a “Know Your Neighbour” initiative, to profile and build a database of all stranger elements in their domain and to send copies to the Council through their Eze after registering in their LGA”
The Imo TRC further directed that scrap dealers and scavengers should register with the LGA where they are operating, stressing that the copies of their registration documents should be sent to the Committee on Culture and Traditions through the chairmen of the local TRCs in the area.
Also affected by directives of the Imo TRC are prayer houses, house fellowships, shop and warehouse churches without national base whose faith/doctrines are inimical to spiritual growth/uplift of Imo people, especially those involved in the use of human or animal blood to bathe, wash or sprinkle on members of the congregation as well as those that invoke the dead or deities and still portray themselves as churches.
The TRC urged all traditional rulers, Imolites and those mentioned to comply without hesitation as non-compliance would attract stiff penalties.
