By Eze Victor, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Chapter of the Association of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (ATMP) has strongly condemned ritual killings and distanced itself from recent incidents of human skull exhumation allegedly linked to native medicine. The association reaffirmed its commitment to ethical healing and pledged to support government efforts to sanitize the traditional healthcare sector.
Speaking during a press conference in Abakaliki, the State Chairman of ATMP, Chief Dr. Augustine Ekechi popularly known as Omeruoha One, described the reported ritual case involving the exhumation and sale of a human skull as “barbaric” and “unacceptable.”
“Our association is for healing, not for horror. We treat illnesses with herbs, and when the situation requires more, we refer patients to hospitals. We are not ritualists, and we condemn any illegal activity disguised as traditional medicine,” Ekechi asserted.
He specifically condemned the alleged actions of Ugoegu Nwaji, who reportedly exhumed his brother’s skull, and Nwodo Nwenyi, the purported native doctor accused of purchasing the skull for ₦12,000 to perform an “Okite” ritual. Ekechi was emphatic that neither man is affiliated with the ATMP, which he said is the only government-recognized body representing traditional medicine practitioners in the state.
“The so-called native doctor is not even an Ebonyi indigene. He is a fraud exploiting our people,” Ekechi declared.
The ATMP chairman revealed that ten unauthorized herbal practitioners have been arrested and handed over to security operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, as part of ongoing inspections of clinics and herbal vendors across the state.
“We support the state’s zero-tolerance stance. Our association is actively inspecting and closing down fake herbal clinics. We welcome regulation and call for tools, including herbal processing equipment, to professionalize our services,” he said, while commending Governor Francis Nwifuru for his administration’s support for healthcare transformation.
However, the traditional medicine sector in Ebonyi remains troubled by internal leadership struggles. A rival body, the National Union of Medical Herbal Practitioners (NUMHP), has rejected ATMP’s claim to sole authority in the state.
NUMHP State Chairman, Dr. Stephen Ndubuisi Nwogha, faulted the state government’s endorsement of ATMP, claiming it was politically engineered under the supervision of the Commissioner for Health and lacks national legitimacy.
“I was invited to serve as the PRO during its formation, but I quickly realized it was a state-sponsored project lacking recognition from the national level. We in NUMHP operate under federal licensing, valid across Nigeria and even internationally,” Nwogha said.
He also raised alarm about some practitioners using traditional medicine as a cover for harmful rituals, stressing that his refusal to tolerate such practices had made him a target.
“They don’t want regulation; they want impunity. I insist on inspecting clinics before issuing any license. That’s why I face resistance,” Nwogha explained.
Despite tensions, Nwogha acknowledged moments of cooperation with Ekechi and called for unity among practitioners.
“We need to come together under proper regulation. It’s the only way to restore credibility and end harmful practices,” he said.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has confirmed the arrest of the two suspects implicated in the ritual killing case. NSCDC Commandant, Francis Nnadi, described the act as a “gruesome desecration of the dead” and pledged full legal action.
As calls grow for reform, regulation, and unity within the traditional medicine sector, the integrity of the profession in Ebonyi hinges on the ability of its leaders to root out malpractice and resolve their internal disputes