Dr. Felix Otuwarikpo, regent to the Eze Ekpeye-Logbo stool of Ekpeye land in Rivers State has warned that any juju priest who flouts the ban on their operations within Ahoada-East and Ahoada-West Local Government Areas of the State will be arrested and prosecuted under the Law.
Otuwarikpo who sounded the warning during an interview maintained that the ban on juju practice in all communities of Ekpeye land stands and a monitoring committee has been set up to arrest anyone found indulging in the act.
He, however, affirmed that such practices are no longer needed in Ekpeye as no one will be spared when caught.
“We have made the proclamation that there won’t be such practices in Ekpeye Land and whoever violates the proclamation will face the consequences of his or her actions. We are not unmindful of the fact there are persons who will not obey simple instructions.
“We are resolute to enforce the Royal pronouncement that has been made to the latter, that is the state of things now.”
The Eze Igbu-Upata also advised the people of the area to engage in meaningful and skilful activities, rather than harmful traditional practices capable of destroying lives.
“I have said repeatedly that everybody should be peaceful and go about their normal businesses, what happened in Ahoada East is not new in Nigeria. There are several churches where pastors have been caught using humans as sacrifices, so it is not new so long the society is existing there are people who will always want to get involved in things that are strange.
“But I am advising my people not to be identified with such characters because those are things that retard development, they should embrace modern thinking and move forward. You do not need a shrine to become great in life, you do not need juju to excel in politics or business.
“What everyone needs is to develop his or her ability as human, realize the God giving potential in us and work towards it to achieve success.”
Recall that the ban on juju practice in Ekpeye kingdom followed a recent incident at Edeoha community in Ahoada-East where a juju priest identified as “Mike India” was allegedly caught burying a three-month-old baby alive.
