Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State with his Deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku, Secretary to Government of Imo State, Chief Cosmas Iwu and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, flanked by members of the newly inaugurated Imo State Traditional Rulers Executive Council led by HRH Eze E.C Okeke(Chairman) after their inauguration by Governor Uzodimma at Government House Owerri...Thursday, April 7, 2022.
Pursuant to the dictates of State Policing, the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers in their meeting of Wednesday 26th February, 2025 reaffirmed their desire and determination to rid Imo State of criminal elements no matter the guise and wish to state as follows:
- Relocation of Non-Indigenous Traditionalists:
All stranger elements operating as Traditionalists in the state should relocate with immediate effect to their respective states, towns, or villages. Their libations, incantations, and sacrifices will not be accepted by the gods of the land since they are not indigenes. Consequently, all shrines/altars arising therefrom should be dismantled immediately, and the practices stopped forthwith.
*Okwa mba n’achi n’olu n’olu.*
- Registration of Indigenous Traditionalists:
All indigenes practicing as traditionalists (native doctors) must come with their Traditional Rulers to confirm their profession/practices. They must also register appropriately with the Council of Ndi Eze through the Committee on Culture and Tradition after identifying with their LGA chairmen (Executive & Traditional).
- Community Profiling of Strangers:
All communities in Imo State are to profile (i.e., create a database – “know your neighbor”) of all stranger elements in their domain. Copies of this database must be sent to the Council through their Eze after registration at their LGA.
- Registration of Scrap Dealers/Scavengers:
All scrap dealers/scavengers operating in the state must be properly profiled and registered with the LGA where they operate. Copies of their registration should be sent to the Committee on Culture and Tradition through the Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council.
- Penalties for Non-Compliance:
Defaulting/non-complying Traditional Rulers/Communities will face stiff penalties.
- Zero Tolerance Directive:
All Traditional Rulers and Imolites must ensure zero tolerance for non-compliance with these directives.
*Ukwa ruo oge ya, ya adaa. Ekwe Kuo, ama agbaa. Ino ga diriri mma.*
- Closure of Unapproved Religious Practices:
All prayer houses, house fellowships, shop/warehouse churches without a national base, or whose faith/doctrine are harmful to the spiritual growth of the people (e.g., using human/animal blood for rituals, invoking spirits of the dead, midnight sacrifices at market squares, road junctions, etc.) must leave Imo State immediately or face the law.
Closing Note:
*To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Anaghi agwa ochi nti n’ahia esula.*
Signed:
HRM, Eze Dr. E.C. Okeke, CFR (Eze Imo),
Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Institution & Community Policing
& Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers (SECTR).
