A video currently making the rounds online captures security operatives forcefully apprehending individuals alleged to be native doctors in Enugu State. In the footage, one suspect is seen being pulled along by officers, while another has his hands restrained in handcuffs as he is led toward a waiting bus.
The arrests were reportedly initiated by the Enugu State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with support from armed personnel of the Nigeria Police Force. The operation targeted individuals described as suspected traditional spiritual practitioners operating in various communities across the state.
A video shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, by a user identified as @Coal__City, shows a bus branded with the ministry’s name accompanied by numerous armed police officers and government officials. The clip reportedly captures the team returning from a community alongside several detained suspects believed to be native doctors.
In the recording, one of the men being dragged by security personnel is heard speaking in Igbo, defending himself against the allegations. He insists that he has never used his traditional practices to harm anyone. According to him, he abandoned his businesses in Kano State, where he owned shops, to return to his hometown in response to what he described as a spiritual calling.
He maintained that his role was to provide healing for people suffering from various physical and spiritual ailments, emphasizing that his work focused on delivering individuals from afflictions rather than causing harm.
Meanwhile, a separate voice in the background of the footage accuses native doctors of allegedly using spiritual means to inflict harm or cause death, reflecting the tension surrounding the arrests.
As of the time this report was compiled, authorities had not publicly clarified the legal grounds for the crackdown or the precise allegations leveled against those detained. The absence of detailed official statements has left many questions unanswered.
The incident has triggered widespread reactions on social media, with some residents expressing concern over what they perceive as a broad targeting of traditional religious practitioners. Others, however, have supported the move, calling for tighter oversight and stronger action against alleged ritual-related crimes within the state.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the state government proved unsuccessful. The Commissioner for Information, Dr. Malachy Agbo, could not be reached by phone and had not replied to a text message requesting comment on the circulating video at the time of this report.