Recently, some Nigerians have left Christianity and Islam to embrace traditional African religion, arguing that it is a return to their roots and background. This has coincided with recent increases in cases of ritual killings and fraudulent spiritual practices in several states across Nigeria.
To fight killings and other crimes related to rituals, on June 2, 2025, the Enugu State government introduced a bill to the state assembly titled “Maintenance of Public Order, Vigilance, and Security.”
Being the first of its kind in the state and, perhaps, a would-be national model, the bill seeks to regulate spiritual and traditional practices.
The move was inspired by the successful busting of a native doctor’s shrine by some vigilante operatives in Umumba Ndiagu, a community in Ezeagu Local Government in Enugu, after it was discovered that he buried several people alive in a sewage pit for ritual.
In May 2025, several video clips circulated on Facebook showing gory images of people allegedly dumped in the sewage pit by Onyeka Obu, the African ritual practitioner, also called Ozo Ezeani and “E dey play, E dey show.”
Angry youths, upon the discovery, had set ablaze Obu’s apartment and vehicles.
“The dead bodies found in Ezeani’s soakaway (sewage pit) clearly show he had been a ritualist, not a native doctor,” Emeka Ozougwu, a resident, told newsmen.
The Enugu State government’s first intervention was to demolish multi-storey buildings belonging to “the billionaire native doctor.”
Inside the Enugu bill
Similar to a law in Anambra State targeting spiritualists, the ‘Maintenance of Internal Security, Vigilance, and Order’ in Enugu pays particular attention to money rituals, known as ‘okite,’ and bulletproof charms, commonly called ‘odeshi,’ in an effort to prohibit religious fraud. It also criminalises illegal use or occupation of forests and properties for unlawful activities.
In summary, the law demands that all traditional spiritualists should be registered in the state. If passed into law, practicing without registration would attract a fine ranging from N1 million to N5 million or two years of imprisonment, or both.
“Any traditional spiritualist that administers or causes to be administered any charm, substance, or object on or for another person, for the purpose of invincibility and other forms of protection to facilitate the commission of any criminal offense or acquiring wealth or benefits by supernatural means outside any lawful means of livelihood, commits an offense and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of six years or to a fine of not less than N5 million, or both,” part of the bill reads.
The bill places the burden of proof on anyone claiming spiritual powers, requiring them to provide reasonable evidence of such abilities during an investigation.
Regarding the use of forests and properties for kidnapping and banditry, the bill says, “Any person who owns, occupies, or has control over any land or building, whether located in a forest or elsewhere, and knowingly allows it to be used as a camp, hideout, or base for kidnapping, the unlawful detention of victims, the collection of ransom, or for any other activity connected to kidnapping or banditry, commits an offense and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 20 years without the option of a fine.”
Hotels and lodging facilities are required to install surveillance cameras in public areas and submit recorded activities to the appropriate authorities or face prosecution.
Reforms for safer communities
In Nigeria, where religious beliefs hold enormous sway, the move by the Enugu State government is both crucial and sensitive. It does not impinge on the right to worship or deny the importance of spiritual heritage. But it is a step to drawing the boundaries where heritage ends and where harm begins.
Communities in the states are now hoping that the bill be passed into law to ensure community safety. They believe the crackdown on fake spiritualists or ritualism contributes to safer communities.
The Enugu State government in Nigeria is tackling the rise of ritual killings and fraudulent spiritual practices by introducing a bill titled "Maintenance of Public Order, Vigilance, and Security" to regulate spiritual and traditional practices.
Prompted by a high-profile case where a native doctor buried people alive for ritual purposes, the bill insists on the registration of all traditional spiritualists and imposes penalties for those practicing unregistered or engaging in rituals for criminal purposes.
It includes stringent measures against the misuse of properties and forests for kidnapping activities, with severe penalties, including imprisonment, for violators.
The bill also mandates lodging facilities to install surveillance cameras to assist law enforcement. While some Nigerians have shifted from Christianity and Islam to traditional African religions, the law aims to distinguish permissible spiritual practices from those that endanger public safety.
Communities support the bill, anticipating enhanced security and a deterrent against ritualism and fraudulent practices, hence promoting safer communities.
