Anambra Governor Launches Profiling Initiative for Herbal Medicine Practitioners 

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has approved the profiling of male and female herbal medicine practitioners (Ndi Dibia and Ezenwanyi) residing in the state to cleanse the industry.

Speaking at Government House in Awka to a peaceful assembly of traditional medicine practitioners, Governor Soludo addressed concerns regarding a recent plan by town union chiefs and local government chairpersons to force out native medicine practitioners who are non-indigenes from their operational bases.

The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, alongside the Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Chief Don Onyenji, emphasized that the law underpinning these activities was passed by the State House of Assembly and signed by the governor.

This initiative aims to distinguish reputable practitioners from those who may facilitate criminal activities, including kidnapping.

“The law specifically targets unscrupulous practitioners who engage in malpractices, such as preparing charms like Okeite (big pot) to assist clients in committing crimes like kidnapping for ransom or armed robbery,” Soludo articulated.

In the profiling initiative, herbal practitioners will not be required to pay any fees. “We are committed to addressing your grievances and ensuring the sanctity of your practice,” he added.

The governor reiterated his dedication to enhancing the state’s safety and order, stating, “Anambra is unmatched, and we must uphold our foundational principle of security and law enforcement.”

Earlier, Dr. Zulike Chinwuba, leader of the protesting Association of Herbal Medicine Practitioners of Anambra State, reinforced that traditional medicine practices are not clandestine.

He noted that the participants in the protest were genuine practitioners, distinct from those indulging in rituals. Chinwuba condemned the misuse of native medicine by a minority of practitioners and welcomed the profiling initiative as a positive step forward. He criticized the actions of some town union presidents who allegedly use intimidation to extract payments ranging from N30,000 to N300,000 from local herbalists.

Supporting this sentiment, Innocent Okwundu, a native doctor known as Igwe Njima from Mbaukwu, expressed gratitude for Governor Soludo’s decision to prevent communities and local councils from imposing bans on non-indigenous native medicine practitioners. He assured his colleagues that they could freely practice once registered with their respective town union presidents.

To further fortify the integrity of the herbal medicine sector, Okwundu revealed plans for a task force composed mainly of trained herbal practitioners. This group will systematically inspect shrines to assess the nature of practices and identify any harmful rituals.

“Should we discover practitioners employing unethical methods such as Awele, Ibobo, Uduakomili, or Okeite (money rituals), we will ensure appropriate actions are taken, including prosecution,” he confirmed.

The community of herbal practitioners pledged to collaborate with the state government to protect the integrity of their profession, promote environmental sanitation, and help eliminate fraudulent practitioners from their ranks.