Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state has issued a stern warning against the pollution of streams and rivers by native doctors engaging in ritual practices in the state.
Soludo gave the warning on Thursday in Awka, the state capital while addressing the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, faithful.
He called on the residents to support the efforts of the state government to rescue, reclaim and rid the state of criminal activities.
“Stop contaminating our rivers and streams with ritual practices in the name of ‘Odinani’ (tradition). Many people rely on that water for drinking, cooking, and other household needs.
“If you must perform rituals, use a container — like a bucket — fill it with water, and carry out your practices there.
“Do not pollute public water sources. Polluted water can make people sick, and we do not want that for our communities,” he said.
The ongoing crackdown on criminal native doctors in the state is said to have prompted outcry from some who viewed the arrests as an attack on traditional religious practitioners.
The governor clarified that he is not targeting traditional worshipers but criminal native doctors who had been defrauding people.
The former CBN governor condemned the rising number of deceptive native doctors in the state, who lure young people with false promises of instant wealth.
Soludo also warned youths in the state not to fall for the tricks of the fraudulent individuals, adding that no native doctor has the power to make anyone a millionaire without hard work.
