A popular native doctor and herbalist, Kenechukwu Ikegbunam—widely known as Husband Material—has reacted to the recent arrest of fellow native doctor Levi Obieze, also known as 'E de play, e de show', who was apprehended by the Nigeria Immigration Service over alleged ritual killings.
Levi, a native of Umuojor village in Isiagu, Enugu State, was wanted by the Enugu State Police for alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl.
His arrest came after decomposing bodies—reportedly of pregnant women—were discovered in his soakaway pit, sparking outrage and panic in the community.
Obieze, known for his flamboyant display of wealth and social media presence, was captured while trying to flee the country with his four wives. He has since reportedly admitted to the crimes.
In response to public backlash and growing scrutiny on traditional practitioners, Ikegbunam firmly rejected the notion that all native doctors are involved in such heinous acts, emphasizing that criminal behavior exists across all religious groups.
"The arrest of Levi doesn’t affect traditional religion or its values. The truth is, there are bad people in every religion. We've seen pastors caught engaging in nefarious acts. It's not something unique to traditional worshippers," he said.
Ikegbunam condemned the activities of individuals who masquerade as traditional healers but engage in human sacrifices and other violent rituals, noting that many of them have strayed far from authentic Igbo spirituality.
"Many of these so-called native doctors have imported Indian deities and repackaged them as part of Igbo tradition. What they portray as Ọdịnala is nothing but witchcraft and the activities of human part dealers hiding under the guise of traditional worship," he declared.
While acknowledging the challenges of regulating traditional religious practices, he stressed that the government could at least establish basic frameworks to discourage criminal misuse of indigenous spirituality.
"The government can only try, but religion—especially traditional worship—is difficult to regulate. What they can do is establish basic rules that help manage the situation," he explained.
He also urged the media to help re-educate the public on the true nature of Ọdịnala and other indigenous belief systems, saying that misconceptions were largely fueled by how traditional practices were portrayed in 80s and 90s Nollywood movies.
"I'm glad to see people like Mmiri Enweilo now using social media to teach the difference between Ọdịnala and witchcraft or ritual killings," he said.
Ikegbunam called for responsible media representation of indigenous cultures and clearer public understanding of the line between spiritual practice and criminality.
