Delta Community Banishes Native Doctor Over Alleged Insults On Monarch

THE peace loving people of Idumu-Ogo Community in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State have unanimously banished one Madam Edith Okoh, a resident native doctor for allegedly insulting their royal stool.

Investigation revealed that the banished traditional doctor, an indigene of Ubulu-Uku, in Aniocha South Local Government Area at the time of being declared personal-nongrata, had lived in the community for two years with no record of contention with anyone until her recent demeanour.

The Obi Igwe of Idumu-Ogo, Obi Samuel Nwachukwu Otiegude, revealed that the issue started when he discovered that the accused parked heavy duty trucks on his farm land and destroyed some food crops. According to him, sequel to the discovery, he summoned the accused to explain the reason for the action but the accused failed to show up.

The obi said that while he was working on his farmland the following day, he saw the woman moving towards her house murmuring and raining accusations. “I beckoned on her to come close and asked why she was so angry at the early hour.

But I got the response of my life. She told me to shut up. I was trying to get the reason from her, I expected her to be remorseful but the reverse was the case. Rather, she is a witch doctor. She attacked me both verbally and almost physically until she was stopped by some members of the community who heard the noise,” the Monarch said that the action pushed the community to call an emergency meeting after irate youths were restrained from attacking her.

“While the meeting was going on, members of the Nigeria Police Force, accompanied by the accused, sauntered into the palace. The leader of the team stated that the woman reported to their division that the monarch ordered youths in the community to kill her. Right there and then the members of the community ordered her to give her narrative of the matter.

And, of course, with utter disrespect in manner, attitude and speech, she rained abuses on me. This pushsed the police to stop her narrative and chided her for her ways.” President General, Idumuj-Ogo Development Union (IDU), Chief Victor Chikedji, when queried on the legality of the banishment clause in view of the provisions of the constitution which leaves room for residency of a national in any part of the country he or she wishes, said that appropriate consultations were made through a delegation to the Nigeria Police Force.

Chikediji said the resposne they got from the police was neither one of agreement nor discord. “Culture, which is an integral part of any people, forms a bulk of the common law. The IDU supports any decision made by the monarch because it is not an independent body, but rather an offshoot of the traditional council.”

“One thing we must agree with remains the fact that if she doesn’t stay away, we cannot tell what irate youths will do over night. Banishing her was to save her life. The town felt insulted.,” he added.

At the time of filing this report, the accused, Madam Okoh, was not available for her side of the story. When our report visited her apartment it was under lock and key with the compound showing obvious signs of abandonment as it looked dirty and unkempt.