KWENU: Our Culture, Our Future

Okija Shrines and Nigeria’s need for atonement

 ACHO ORABUCHI

Dallas, Texas

aorabuchi@netzero.net

Thursday, August 19, 2004

Old saying has it, "Evils that men do live after them." However, these days, evils that men do obviously live before them for the most part. Nigeria, the most Christian nation in Africa by most estimation, has its dark side—the menacing horror associated with deity worshiping that had remained subtle in the subconscious minds of many people until recently.

In any case, the awesome light of truth eventually exposes evil deeds or practices, no matter their longevity, in uncanny ways. For instance, without equating one with another, the atrocities of Jezebel, holocaust, apartheid, the fall of Berlin wall, disintegration of the Soviet Union, the falls of Sani Abacha, Idi Amin, Nicolae Ceauşescu of Romania, Saddam Hussein, and much more got exposed or came to their demise with the culprits facing a civilized justice. The unmasking of the mystery surrounding various horror shrines in Okija community, Ihiala local government area of Anambra State is following the same path. The much talked about the mystery of Okija shrine has been reduced to disdain.

For so long people had succumbed to trepidation and could not muster the courage to revile the shrines perceived to have enormous power. And the operators of the horror shrines noticing the fear in these people took maximum advantage of the situation. As a result, the shrines in Okija and elsewhere in Nigeria have been allowed to flourish unabated. The mystery has undeniably been de-mystified. Thanks to the bold actions of the Inspector General, Mr. Tafa Balogun and his special police homicide squad, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Anambra State police command, and crack detectives, finally, not only that freedom has replaced fear, but also lasting respite has ultimately replaced reprisal.

In this 21st century era of technological advances coupled with seamless boundaries, transfer of information in the age of globalization becomes real-time more than ever. The world is left in awe wondering how rampant the morally reprehensible deity practice is in Nigeria. The news about the discovery ritual killings in Okija could be found in the pages of newspapers around the world.

The implications of the unexpected discovery of these shrines in Okija littered with human skulls and corpses in various conditions are enormous to the already badly damaged Nigerian image.

Good image has eluded Nigeria for several years to necessitate the effort of the Information Minister, Hon. Minister Chikelu to embark on a project to remake Nigeria. Well, when serious efforts are being made to project Nigeria in good light—to have a complete makeover of Nigeria’s image—here comes unexpected hitch. Sadly, when Nigeria needed good image most, it was left in the lurch with the atrocious and gory stories of ritual killings emanating from Okija community, Ihiala local government area of Anambra State.

Whatever the wrath of God may be for this sin, I hope and pray that the entire nation would not be decimated. For the collective guilt of the nation, atonement becomes the only option to reduce the collective punishment.

The length and the intensity of the generational curse the people of Nigeria will suffer for this atrocity is not yet told. Nevertheless, the nation should declare a week of prayer for the remission of collective sin. The sin brought on the entire nation by the perpetrators of ritual killings.

While we condemn the operators of these shrines for their criminal and sinful activities, our broad brush of scorn should not leave untouched those who have made it possible for the shrines in Okija and those in other areas to thrive. What is more disheveling is the silence of many and the acquiescence of Christian clients of these shrines.

The discoveries of Okija shrine and other shrines like them across the country leave us with more questions than answers. The agonizing questions are thus: What would police do the information they have gathered so far in their ongoing investigation? What are they going to do with the shrines? What will happen to the identifiable corpses? Would the police allow the sinful activities to continue in the nation? What would they do with the operators and associates of these shrines? What will happen to those individuals who have been patronizing the operators of the shrines?

The reactions of Nigerians in the Diaspora to the horrid discoveries in Okija shrines could be summed up in one word, chagrin! In a recently released press statement by PNF USA signed on August 9, 2004 by Mr. Geoffrey Nzeadibe and Mr. Ngozi Echebelem, secretary and publicity secretary respectively, PNF USA expressed the views of most Nigerians. Here are the excerpts of the press release:

Pan Ndi Igbo Foundation (PNF USA) strongly condemns the ritual killings in Okija, Anambra State.

Ndiigbo in the diaspora under the auspices of Pan Ndi Igbo Foundation (PNF USA) received with utmost sadness the gory and gruesome news of ritual killings in Okija in Ihiala LGA, Anambra State. We categorically condemn such practices both in Okija and elsewhere in Nigeria.

Ndiigbo in the Diaspora are commending both the police and the individual who brought to light the existence of such rituals. Life and properties of Nigerian citizens should be protected and the law and order should remain supreme.

In the light of the above, Ndi Igbo in the Diaspora under the auspices of (PNF USA) are calling for full investigation and prosecution of any individual or group of individuals who have played any role whatsoever in the rituals no matter how highly placed they are.

Again, PNF USA supports Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Tafa Balogun—the police action in demystifying the barbaric practice in Okija. We call on the police to thoroughly investigate this matter and prosecute the people involved in this type of uncivilized and unchristian activity.

The gory story and horrid pictures will continue to send a cold chill to the stomach of many.