By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Tilova for Africa, a U.S.-based charity and equal rights organization, has pledged to fund legal representation for native doctors arrested and detained by the Anambra state government.
Martins Nwabueze, CEO of Tilova for Africa, made the announcement on Monday in response to the recent arrests as part of the state’s initiative to address rising insecurity.
Dr. Law Mefor, Anambra’s Commissioner for Information, confirmed that Mr. Chiedozie Nwangwu, Mr. Onyebuchi Okocha, and 28 other native doctors remain in custody, under investigation for allegedly making charms for criminals.
Nwabueze condemned the arrests, labeling the detention of individuals based on their trade or religious practice under the pretext of fighting insecurity as unjust profiling.
“As a Foundation, we are committed to ensuring these individuals receive equal rights. We are offering our support by providing free legal services to those detained,” Nwabueze stated.
While acknowledging the serious safety concerns in Anambra, he emphasized that a few rogue individuals claiming to be native doctors should not prompt the government to enact laws that unfairly impact the cultural and religious practices of the broader population.
“Nigeria is a secular country, where everyone is entitled to practice their religion and profession without facing discrimination or persecution,” he added.
Nwabueze further explained that traditional medicine has long been a respected practice across African societies and should not be eradicated in Anambra based on mere assumptions.
While supporting any effort aimed at promoting peace and security in Anambra, Nwabueze stressed that discrimination based on religion or trade is unacceptable.
He called on the Anambra state government to release the detained native doctors if no concrete evidence is found against them, urging against their prolonged detention.
“Tilova for Africa has closely monitored the situation in Anambra. While we support the governor’s goal of ensuring security, we strongly oppose the crackdown on indigenous religious practices in the state,” Nwabueze said.
“The arrest and detention of over 30 native doctors, simply based on assumptions about their involvement in criminal activities, is not only unjust but also primitive.”
He added, “Crime-fighting strategies should focus on actual criminals, not on cultural practitioners or content creators. We are here to assist any native doctor in need of legal support, and we encourage them to contact us via our website: www.tilovaforafrica.com.”
Nwabueze also urged Governor Soludo to prioritize investing in technology-driven security measures and training for law enforcement to ensure that only those responsible for crimes are arrested, detained, and prosecuted.
