The Anambra State government has arrested and detained a popular native doctor, Chukwudozie Nwangwu, also known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to sources, Akwa Okuko was arrested and taken to the office of the Deputy Governor, Gilbert Onyekachukwu Ibezim, where he was interrogated about his practices.
A video of the arrest, which was obtained by SaharaReporters, shows Akwa Okuko being questioned by the Deputy Governor about a video circulating on social media. Akwa Okuko denied ownership of the social media page where the video was posted.
When asked if he was aware of the state government’s law banning native doctor practices, Akwa Okuko replied that he had stopped practicing since he heard about the law.
However, the Deputy Governor expressed skepticism about Akwa Okuko’s claims, stating that the government would investigate further and require evidence that he had ceased his activities.
“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,” Ibezim said. “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 subsequently forced into a security van and taken away for detention.
The arrest comes after Governor Chukwuma Soludo declared war on native doctors in December 2024, following a rise in criminal activities in the state. The Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, had clarified that the government’s crackdown was targeted at “fake” and “devilish” native doctors involved in criminal activities, such as preparing charms for kidnappers and gunmen.
The development has sparked concerns among native doctors and traditional practitioners in the state, who fear that the government’s actions may be overly broad and target legitimate practitioners.