*Accused of preparing charms for Yahoo-Yahoo boys, other criminals
The Anambra State Government has arrested and detained a popular celebrity native doctor in the state, Chukwudozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki.
In a viral video of his arrest circulating on social media, Mr. Nwangwu was first taken to the Office of the Deputy Governor of Anambra state, Chief Gilbert Onyekachukwu Ibezim, where he was interrogated, before he was forced into a waiting police van and whisked away to unknown place for detention.
While being interrogated by the Deputy Governor, Akwa Okuko said he stopped practising and preparing charm, and rituals popularly known as “Okeite” for his customers since the state government declared war against native doctors in the state.
Governor Soludo had during a function in the state in December 2024, declared war on native doctors following the increasing criminalities in the state.
The governor’s declaration of the war against native doctors in the state generated panic and controversy among the native and traditional doctors across the state.
The Commissioner for Information in the state, Dr. Law Mefor, later said that Soludo only declared war on “fake” and “devilish” native doctors involved in criminalities such as preparing charms for Yahoo-Yahoo boys, kidnappers and gunmen.
He added that implementation of the governor’s declaration across the state has been without limit.
Interrogated by the Deputy Governor in a video of him which has gone viral on social media, Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki said, “it is not my page that posted the video.”
Asked if he is aware of the law banning native doctor practice in the state without registration, he said, “I heard about the law and since when I heard about it, I have stopped practicing as a native doctor.
“Go to my page (social media page), you will not see anything like that. Since I heard that the state wants no ‘Okeite,’ I just stopped it.”
He however said that the ‘Okeite’ is just a name they gave the ritual aspect of their practice.
“That ‘Okeite,’ we are the ones that just gave it that name. ‘Okeite’ is just a name. It is the same ritual, just that, that is always inside pots.”
Ibezim said the government will push further on his case, take him to the places where he practises his work and that he must provide evidence justifying he no longer practices as a native doctor.
Ibezim said, “We want to see those things. We want to see where you do these things, and the evidence of what you are doing is your shop.
“That is what the law says, and failure to get all these things, of course you know the consequences. We will investigate him further.”
Akwa Okuko was thereafter forced into a security van following his attempt to ride in his car.
Recall that at the height of his popularity, Nwangwu, was last year kidnapped in one of his hotels, but he claimed he gave in to the Kidnappers’ demands to avoid collateral consequences should he have disappeared at that moment.
