Kill or kidnap and die oath was administered to the people of Anambra East and Anambra West local government areas yesterday in seven dreaded shrines.
The seven shrines accompanied by seven male virgins to the venue of the oath taking were Aro-Amamerulu of Ivite Aguleri; Ayaya-Nwuru of Nando ; Ebeagu of Umuikwu Anam.
Others were Nengo of Nteje; Ovia Mmili of Umueri; Udude Onogo of Igbariam and Ochume Iwele of Umuoba Anam. These shrines and their goddesses are dreaded in Anambra state as once an oath is taken in any of the shrines , calamity upon calamity often happen to those involved if found guilty and it does not stop with the immediate offender as it wipes out the entire household of the offender in revenge.
But the fear of another communal war among themselves after the horrible Aguleri and Umuleri communal war that consumed thousands and destroyed property worth billions of naira that could not be reconstructed up till date. The scars of war are still imminent in Aguleri/Umuleri and the region could not afford another communal war especially now the people of Enchowa and Odeke in Kogi state are fanning the embers of war against Aguleri Otu.
The oath was necessitated sequel to killing of four people each allegedly in Aguleri/ Umuoba Anam communal clash as narrated by eye witness Chukwudi Daniel Chinwoba.
He said the Aguleri people mistakenly killed four people from Umuoba Anam thinking they were from Olu and the Umuoba Anam people retaliated and killed four people from Aguleri.
That he said heightened tension leading to take over of the two communities by the Army and the Nigerian police.
Following the tension generated, Chairman of Anambra East Traditional Rulers Council and Traditional ruler of Igbariam, Igwe Nkeli Nzekwe Kelly and the Chairman of Traditional Rulers Council Anambra West local government area, Igwe Sylvester Nnose as well as Igwe Chukwuemeka Eri of Aguleri and Barr. Stan Nwata of Anam stood in for the two local government areas for the oath taking to forestall killing and kidnapping of anybody from the two local governments.
The oath taking was witnessed by the Chairman of Anambra East, Comrade Chinedu Obidigwe and the Chairman of Anambra West , Chief Augustine Chukwura as well as DPO Otuocha CSP E Sunday, SSS team, NSCDC team, over 12 other traditional rulers and over 40 representatives of the communities and stakeholders in the two local government areas.
The document of oath entitled ,’’don’t kill your brothers from Anambra East and West in any form again’, states that henceforth , Aguleri and Anam should stop further killing of themselves , any person or community who is adding them should stay clear and stop fueling the crisis. That failure to stop further killing, let shrine kill those involved in such killings.
‘’that any person from Anambra East/ Anambra West who engaged in kidnapping in whatever means whether here or outside or even held kidnapped person hostage in Anambra East/ West that shrine will kill the person.
‘’Both traditional rulers , PG’s and indigenes of Anambra East and West who heard that anybody from this area Anambra East/ West will be killed without revealing it that shrine will kill the person.
‘’that any traditional ruler or President General who did not announce this article of oath taking to his community within 48 hours ,let the shrine punish them.
‘’That any person from Anambra East/ Anambra West who engaged him/herself into vandalisation of electric wires and transformers or accepting those stolen wire from the perpetrators let shrine kill the person.
‘’that any person who hails from any community in Anmabra East and West operating as a criminal using any weapon whether gun, matchet etc or any person who saw the bandits or know their hideouts without reporting to the traditional rulers , PG’s , security agents and local government Chairmen , let shrine kill the person.
‘’That from today, all the communities/ person from Anambra East/West who engaged any foreigner to reiterate on killing anybody from any community in Anambra East and West let shrine hold the person.
Chairman of APGA in Anambra East , Mr Mike Osita confirmed that since he was born he has never seen such shrines being administered at a stretch but expressed hope that no more would killing or kidnapping be perpetuated in the two local government areas especially by natives or with their connivance.
The Chairman of Anambra East local government area, Comrade Chinedu Obidgwe informed that the communities in the Anambra East and West have taken an oath not to kill , kidnap or maim anybody from the communities never again before seven shrines that are powerful in the two council areas.
He said twelve Monarchs and two transition committee members and over 40 other stakeholders including representatives from the Army , Police and other security agents were at the meeting of oath taking chaired by traditional ruler of Igbariam and Chairman of Traditional ruler of Anambra East , Igwe NN Kelly and Chairman of Traditional rulers council of Anmabra West Igwe Sylverster Nnose.
