Premium News
The Enugu State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has commenced the arrest of suspected native doctors operating in different parts of the state, in an operation backed by armed officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
A video clip circulating on X (formerly Twitter) and shared by user @Coal__City shows a bus bearing the inscription of the Enugu State Ministry of Culture and Tourism alongside dozens of armed police officers and ministry officials returning from a community with individuals suspected to be native doctors.
In the footage, one of the suspects was seen being dragged by security operatives, while another was handcuffed and escorted into the waiting bus.
The man being dragged was heard speaking in Igbo, insisting that he had not committed any crime.
“I have not killed anyone with my medicine. I am a native doctor. It was because of this calling that I left my businesses in Kano State where I have shops and returned to my community,” he said.
He added, “I am only here to treat people with different illnesses, both physical and spiritual. I am delivering people from the clutches.”
However, another voice in the background of the video accused native doctors of allegedly using spiritual powers to harm people.
“You people are using your spiritual powers to kill people,” the voice said.
Details surrounding the legal basis for the arrests and the specific allegations against the suspects remain unclear as of the time of filing this report.
The development has sparked reactions online, with some residents questioning the targeting of traditional spiritual practitioners, while others have called for stricter regulation of alleged ritual-related activities in the state.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters was unable to reach the Enugu State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Malachy Agbo, as he did not answer phone calls.
At the time of filing this report, he had also not responded to a text message seeking his comment on the video clip circulating on social media.
