ABUJA — INSPECTOR General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, received a presidential directive yesterday to personally take charge of the on-going investigation into the Okija Shrines, where the police last week recovered 20 human skulls and a fresh corpse. The IG is also to ensure that the brains behind the rituals, whatever their status, are brought to book.
The pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze, in its first reaction to the Okija incident disowned a statement credited to its Secretary-General, Chief Joe Achuzia, to the effect that the police raid on the shrines was uncalled for, and that shrines are part of Igbo tradition. The Ohanaeze described the Okija discovery as a major tragedy, and alien to Ndigbo. Meanwhile, the man who assisted the police in unraveling the Okija shrines has cried out over alleged threats to his life.
Already, a detachment of about 70 heavily armed policemen from Mopol 44, Abuja, led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, has left the Federal Capital for Awka and Okija to secure the 35 suspects already arrested, arrest more if need be and take along very important evidence to Force Headquarters, Abuja. Police sources told Vanguard that the president was personally interested in the matter, following the horrifying revelations, the interest it has generated worldwide and the need to use the Okija incident to send a once and for all signal to ritualists in the country that the time has come for an end to their blood sucking escapades. Two trucks, one Mercedez Benz 911 and one Tata truck, were seen loaded with mobile policemen singing war songs while a pick-up van carrying officers and another 504 salon escort car were seen heading to the Anambra State capital, Awka at about 6p.m. yesterday.
Vanguard also learnt that the action of the presidency might not be unconnected with the position of the Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, that the shrines were used for advance fee fraud purposes to dupe people and not any form of worship or judgement as claimed by some people. According to sources, nobody has been able to explain how the four fresh heads of people got to the shrines if indeed, the shrines and skulls found there have been in existence for different reasons other than ritual killings or 419 purposes. Besides, findings of the police showed that almost all the suspects including the priests, the servants, and errand boys all boast of multi-million naira mansions in Awka and Okija which convinced the police that the shrines were used for 419 purposes. Sources said a building belonging to a servant of a chief priest which the police visited during investigations was valued at over N100 million.
*Ohanaeze reacts
And in a statement yesterday, the Ohanaeze said its Secretary-General, Chief Achuzia, was not speaking for it when he tried to justify the existence of the shrines.
Its words: "Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the dynamic, humane and civilised Igbo race that it represents, totally and completely dissociates itself from the statements and allegations contained in these reports attributed to Colonel Joe Achuzia (rtd), its Secretary-General. Ohanaeze does not believe that its Secretary-General made these unauthorised statements, which unjustly portray Ndigbo as primitive, inhumane and barbaric, especially as these statements do not represent, even remotely, the official position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. In any event, all the information and allegations contained in the said reports are totally alien to the leadership of Ohanaeze and to millions of reputable and responsible Ndigbo who are busy carrying on their businesses within the provisions of the law.
"Whilst Ohanaeze is investigating the authenticity of these reports, we state below the official position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on each of the main allegations as expressed in these reports.
"Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a responsible law-abiding organisation totally committed to the modern concepts of democracy and the rule of law. It endorses and recognises the duties and responsibilities of the police in the enforcement of the laws of the land. Ohanaeze and the millions of law-abiding Ndigbo whose interests and aspirations it represents, will never support any attempt to restrain the police or any other law enforcement agency from carrying out, justly and equitably, its legitimate functions aimed at detecting crimes and protecting the rights and interests of the people.
"Ndigbo in the 20th and 21st centuries are amongst the most humane and civilised beings, not just in modern Africa, but in the world. All they demand is justice for all, a level playing field and freedom under the law so that they can exercise their skills and carry on their legitimate businesses peacefully. Ohanaeze maintains that there is no truth whatsoever in the allegations contained in these unfortunate reports that it is part of the culture, history and tradition of Ndigbo to deal in human skulls in shrines in the manner described in these reports and in the alleged interview.
"To the best of our knowledge, the existence of the said shrines and their procedures as described in these reports are totally alien to Ohanaeze as a body and to Ndigbo in general, and neither the present leadership nor those before it seemed to have any knowledge of such shrines.
"In line with their commitment to the modern principles of justice and the rule of law, Ohanaeze and the millions of Ndigbo that it represents recognise, and subscribe to the jurisdiction of the regular courts as prescribed in the laws of the land. To this end, Ohanaeze and Ndigbo are not in support of any other 'parallel' judicial system presided over by 'priests and gods' that dispense instant justice, including the death penalty as described in these shocking reports. Ohanaeze Ndigbo believes that the Okija discovery is a major tragedy that calls for serious reflection by all right-thinking Nigerians.
"In the light of the foregoing, Ohanaeze Ndigbo will continue to work with other Nigerians to eliminate all those factors that create and sustain the kind of society that harbours the negative factors, which impede our transition to the modern nation of our dream.
"In view of the serious issues raised by the Okija shrines issues and the reports that followed, the President-General of Ohanaeze has directed that an emergency meeting of the principal organs of Ohanaeze be summoned to deliberate on the subject. Thereafter, a major press conference would be addressed on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo."
lInformant cries out over life.
Meanwhile, Chief Chukwumeze Nwachinemelu Igwe who said he assisted the police in unravelling the Okija shrines has written a petition to the police, alleging threats to his life.
He said: "Ever since the matter was blown open, my life has been put in danger. I have been receiving threat letters and strange telephone calls from different quarters. Attached are photocopies of some of the letters.
"I implore the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigeria police or her security agents to give me and members of my family protection so that I will not regret helping the Nigeria police in carrying out their civic responsibilities. There are other startling revelations I can make about the Okija shrines which I will not make until I am convinced that my life, family and property are safe and possibly if I can be made to see the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."
