A well-known celebrity native doctor, Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki n’Oba, has been arrested by Agunechemba, a local vigilante group in Anambra State.
His arrest was confirmed on Saturday in a video shared via the Anambra State New Media handle on Facebook.
The incident took place in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area.
According to the post, “Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki n’Oba denies Okeite and has been detained for further investigation by the security agency.”
Sources indicate that after his arrest, he was taken to the office of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, for questioning.
In a widely circulated video, the deputy governor is seen interrogating him.
While responding to the allegations, Akwa Okuko stated, “I have long stopped doing ‘Oke Ite’. That thing is not a charm. We just gave it the name ‘Oke Ite’ because we put it in a pot.”
Reacting to his explanation, the deputy governor insisted on further investigations, saying, “We need to take him to where he does these things. We will investigate him, and of course, we need to know where he does these things.”
Akwa Okuko has been a controversial figure in recent times.
In July 2023, he was abducted by gunmen and reportedly spent days in captivity before being released after a ransom was allegedly paid.
Additionally, there are accusations that he provides charms for criminals, including kidnappers disguising as internet fraudsters.
To curb crime in the state, the administration of Governor Charles Soludo enacted the Anambra State Homeland Security Law in 2025.
The law imposes stringent penalties on native doctors involved in the preparation or administration of charms such as ‘Odeshi’, ‘Okeite’, and ‘Mkpu Egbe’.
