Renowned human rights activist and CEO of Tilova for Africa, Martins Nwabueze, has strongly criticized Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration over what he describes as the unjust victimization of native doctors (Dibia) in Anambra State.
Nwabueze, who leads the U.S.-based charity and equal rights group, expressed concern that Soludo’s approach to tackling criminality is unfairly targeting traditional spiritual practitioners, rather than addressing systemic issues such as education, job creation, and drug abuse among youths.
He faulted the governor’s challenge to native doctors to prove the ailments they cure, stating that the directive misrepresents the true role of Dibias in Igbo culture.
“Not all Dibia are herbalists or healers. Some specialize in divination (Igba Afa), spiritual cleansing (Ilu Agwu), and other practices that have nothing to do with physical medicine,” Nwabueze said.
He further questioned the fairness of the crackdown, pointing out that no similar scrutiny is being applied to Christian pastors or other religious figures suspected of exploiting their followers.
“Are we going back to the biblical era of Moses and Pharaoh, where supernatural powers are tested in public? Why are native doctors singled out while others are left unchecked?” he asked.
Nwabueze urged the Anambra State Government to focus on combating corruption, improving public enlightenment, and tackling the surge of drug abuse among youths, which he identified as a greater threat than social media-native doctors creating content.
He concluded by calling for equal treatment of all citizens, regardless of their religious or spiritual beliefs, warning that persecuting traditionalists simply because they are a minority is unjust.
“Societies thrive when all individuals are treated equally. The government must arrest criminals based on evidence, not their spiritual beliefs or profession,” Nwabueze emphasized.
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