Did The Anambra State Governor Ban Native Doctors in The State?

Did The Anambra State Governor Ban Native Doctors in The State?

On January 21, 2025, a TikTok user @celebritylove_12345 posted a video talking about a new law implemented in Anambra state. The user said the governor of Anambra state Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has put a ban on native doctors and the state house of assembly has implemented a new law that makes anyone caught in this act liable to six years in prison and or a twenty million naira fine.

As of the time this report was published, the post has gained over 544,000 impressions, about 23,000 likes, about 2,100 comments and about 2,000 bookmarks.

VERIFICATION

A keyword search for ‘Anambra native doctor ban’ led to several articles about Governor Soludo’s statement on native doctors.

On January 20, 2025, The Nation published an article stating that Governor Soludo had declared a war against fake and devilish native doctors while attending a function in the state,. However, the governor’s statement was misinterpreted as declaring war on all native doctors and that they are liable to punishment. The Punch’s report also clarified the governor’s stance on native doctors.

The Anambra state commissioner for information, Law Mefor, in a press statement clarified the governor’s stance regarding the matter. Mefor said the governor had no business with the persons who genuinely practise the religion but rather his war is against those who make light of it and use it as a means to kidnap and harm citizens for rituals.

Further search revealed that there is a newly enacted Homeland Security Law 2025 in the state. The Homeland security law which came into effect on January 17, 2025 establishes Agunechemba, a structured state security outfit designed to complement and support existing law enforcement agencies in preventing crime, detecting criminal activities, and preserving law and order across all communities, local governments, and urban centers in Anambra State.

Under section 18 of the law titled, ‘Offences on use of supernatural power,’ it outlines regulations for traditional practitioners, anyone using such power for criminal or harmful acts and illegal accumulation of wealth through such power, and anyone pretending to possess supernatural powers. Here is a summary of Section 18, no. 1-5 below.

CONCLUSION

The claim that the governor of Anambra state has banned native doctors in the state is MISLEADING. The governor mainly talked about his plans to fight against fake native doctors who are increasing the rate of criminalities in the state.

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