Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has intensified efforts to curb the growing criminal activities linked to fraudulent native doctors who provide charms to kidnappers, gunmen, and internet fraudsters, commonly known as “Yahoo boys.”
In a statement, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, clarified that the governor’s crackdown is focused specifically on fraudulent practitioners involved in illegal activities, not on genuine traditional medicine practitioners.
Mefor responded to the confusion caused by misleading reports, saying, “The governor’s stance is not a war against all native doctors. Rather, it is aimed at the fake and criminal ones who engage in illicit activities.”
He revealed that investigations had exposed shocking revelations about certain native doctors, including their involvement in human sacrifices and other rituals designed to assist in financial fraud and criminal operations.
“These harmful practices have led to the emergence of rituals like ‘Ego Mbute’ and ‘Yahoo Plus,’ which contradict the core Igbo values of hard work, integrity, morality, and reverence for God,” Mefor stated.
The commissioner assured legitimate traditional medicine practitioners that they need not fear the government’s actions, stressing that the aim is to protect the cultural significance of traditional medicine while addressing its misuse in criminal activities.
Mefor further clarified, “The governor is not condemning traditional medicine or all native doctors. This is a focused effort to eliminate those who use spiritual powers for criminal purposes. These individuals are misleading the youth and could destroy the moral fabric of society.”
Governor Soludo has called on the people of Anambra to support the fight against crime by reporting any suspicious activities.
“Security is everyone’s responsibility, not just the government’s,” Soludo said. “If you see something, hear something, or suspect something, speak up.”
