Nigerians have been warned against placements of sacrifices and other fetish items on public roads, especially intersections.
The governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo gave this warning to indigenes and residents of the state recently, threatening to arrest defaulters.
Specifically, the governor, while reacting to the arrests of some native doctors in the state, urged traditional worshippers in Anambra State to be mindful of public spaces when practicing their faith.
Cautioning against leaving sacrifices and other fetish objects at road intersections, Soludo emphasised that such practices should be done in private spaces if they are so important for the adherents.
“If your god requires sacrifices at a crossroads, you can simply draw one in your compound and place your offering there. But if you drop sacrifices on public roads and we catch you, we will arrest you,” he warned.
While acknowledging the importance of cultural and religious beliefs, he stressed that some practices should be done in private to avoid disrupting the lives of others.
“If your faith requires worship in a river, kindly create a pond within your compound and perform your rituals there. Many people downstream depend on that water for drinking and other daily needs,” Soludo advised.
Governor Soludo clarified that his administration is not against traditional religion that is popularly known in Igbo land as “Omenala.”
He recognised that true adherents of Omenala follow principles of integrity and justice, which are different from those who engage in harmful rituals.
“I remember the elders who practiced Omenala when I was a child. In their compounds, they had a small mound or an Ogirisi tree where they poured libations to their chi, they were known for their honesty and strong moral values. They feared Ala (the Earth deity) and believed that telling a lie would bring its wrath upon them. They upheld the principles of Ome ife jide ofor and Oji ofor ga ala”
However, he strongly condemned the use of harmful charms like Oke Ite, Awale, and Ibubu, stating that anyone caught engaging in such dangerous practices would face arrest.
“This is not about opposing our traditions; it’s about ensuring that our practices do not endanger others or disrupt public order,” Soludo added.
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to preserving Igbo traditions while ensuring that Anambra remains a clean, safe, and organised state for everyone.
Recall that a traditional ruler in Osun State, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, had banned placement of sacrifices on public roads in his domain.
Oba Akanbi had explained that such could lead to damage of such roads, or lead to blockage of water channels, thereby causing flooding.
He said, “The practice of placing sacrifices on the road, most especially junctions and blocking our rivers by dumping ritual sacrifices in them, which in turn causes floods, is not equally permitted in Iwo. Most sacrificial offerings are placed on the road in junctions. You will see palm oil and other dirty items as offerings on the road financed by our taxpayers’ money, a road that should be maintained through collective efforts and patriotic dedication.”
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association in the state had tackled the monarch, saying restriction of its activities would not stop adherents from enjoying their rights to associate or express their faith.
