By Tony Oraeki, Awka
One of the leaders of the Traditional Native Doctors in Anambra state, Dr. Ramas Okoye- Asuzu,has raised fresh alarm over the money ritual practices popularly known as Oke- Ite that has taken over the South East zone, lamenting that it is the origin of ritual killings in Igbo land.
It would be recalled that last year, Gov Charles Soludo of Anambra state in a bid to stem the sad and gory stories of ritual killings by alleged Native Doctors had announced the registration of practitioners as part of his fight against insecurity in the area.
Soludo stated that these Native Doctors have been accused of providing charms and protective amulets for the gunmen who have been involved in killings and Kidnappings in the state.
Asuzu further contended that the Oke- Ite ritual is a taboo in Igbo land, noting that the practice is not the culture, religion and tradition of the Igbo people.
He further noted that most people who claim to be Native Doctors or Traditional Medicine practitioners are fake hence calling for the inauguration of the Council of Traditional Medicine Board in the entire geopolitical zone.
Asuzu who spoke to reporters at his country home, Nri kingdom in Anaocha local government area of state said that, “When you go to the bush, you see all these criminals hanging red , white and black cloths trying to answer Native Doctors but they are all fake and quacks.
“They have made our young men and women lazy that they cannot engage in something meaningful to earn a living and all that they want is quick money and the apprenticeship life of the Igbo people has been forgotten because of fast money.
“Oke – Ite is not an Igbo tradition and, infact, it is a taboo for most of these young men and women that say they are doing business called Yahoo – Yahoo, they are ritualists and there is no such ritual without human parts which is evil.”
Asuzu however urged the governors of the South East especially Gov Charles Soludo to inaugurate the Council for Traditional Medicine or Native Doctors Board involving him and his other colleagues to help government checkmate what he called the evil practices of criminals and ritualists who operate under the platform of Traditional Native Doctors.
