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Home |   About Us |   Contact Us |   Members |   Search |   Subscribe |   Disclaimer |   THE GUARDIAN CONSCIENCE, NURTURED BY TRUTH LAGOS, NIGERIA.     Tuesday, August 24 2004   news   editorial/opinion   policy & politics   business   sports   appointments   compulife   metro   arts   law   capital market   Guardian Chat Click to join the chatroom Okija people are not cannibals, says monarch From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka WORRIED by the negative publicity resulting from the Okija shrine scandal, the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Ben I. Okeke and his cabinet have refuted allegations by the police and media that their people are murderers and cannibals. Since last three weeks, there have been allegations of ritual killings and trade on human parts, following police raid and arrest of no fewer than 35 suspects from shrines in Okija in Ihiala Local Council of Anambra State. The Ezegedegwum IV of Okija expressed displeasure over the manner in which security agents and the press had played up the issue, accusing them of having negative sentiments against the community. At a crowded press briefing at the weekend in his palace, Igwe Okeke, flanked by members of his cabinet and the town's development union, denied the allegations. He remarked that his subjects are law-abiding and hospitable and that nobody had ever protested or reported any harassment by the priests or complained of any missing person in the community. "We feel very sad over the manner the police have handled the stories of Ogwugwu Akpu and Ogwugwu Isialu, portraying the Okija community as idol worshippers and murderers", Igwe said. He continued: "It is more disturbing for the press to give out bad stories representing Okija people as idol worshippers and cannibals to the whole world". "Okija people are peaceful, loving, patriotic, hospitable and law-abiding citizens". The monarch insisted and urged for transparency in the investigation of the suspects and the shrine episode. On the chief priests and the adherents, he maintained that they are "pagans who are observing and practising their traditional religions while ministering to their clients from within and outside Okija, either as arbiters in disputes or consultants for one matter or another". � 2003 - 2004 @ Guardian Newspapers Limited (All Rights Reserved).  Powered by dnetsystems.net dnet�

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