Tony Okafor,Awka
Scores of native doctors and herbalists in Anambra State are reportedly on the run as security agencies raid shrines belonging to faceless criminals known as unknown gunmen and made some arrests.
New National Star gathered the raid was done in the wee hours of Monday in nine shrines in Anambra South Senatorial Destrict of the state.
A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, ” Security agencies in Anambra State have busted nine camps belonging to ‘unknown gunmen’ in the Anambra South Senatorial District.
” The shrines are used by the hoodlums for oath-taking and sundry diabolic ritualists. The exercise was carried out by the joint task force on security in the state” , adding that the natives who acted as informants to the hoodlums were also in detention and making useful statements.
“Some of the areas raided by the task force included Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Local Government Area; Ebenato community in Nnewi South LGA; Ezinifite community also in Nnewi South LGA; and Ichi, in Ekwusigo LGA.
“Other areas were part of Osumoghu, Lilu and some parts of Ukpor in Nnewi South and Ihiala LGAs.
The source said most native doctors had fled from their homes because some of their colleagues who were arrested had been providing names of those involved in killings and kidnappings in the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu declined comment on the issue, saying it was too early to begin to count the successes of security operatives in the war against hoodlums in the state.
Last week, a 70-year-old man( name withheld) suspected to be a native doctor for the gunmen terrorising the state and the entire South-East under was arrested in Unubi, in the Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
His arrest was said to be in connection with the abduction, disappearance, beheading and decapitation of a lawmaker in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Okechukwu Okoye, who was abducted on 15th May 2022.