The Association of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (ATMP), Ebonyi State Chapter, has distanced itself from ritual killings and reaffirmed its commitment to ethical health practices, even as internal leadership disputes continue to trouble the traditional medicine community in the state.
The State Chairman of the ATMP, Chief Dr. Augustine Ekechi (Omeruoha One), made this declaration yesterday during a press briefing in Abakaliki. Ekechi condemned the recent exhumation and sale of a human skull allegedly for ritual purposes, describing the act as "barbaric" and "unacceptable."
“Our association is committed to supporting modern medicine and public health, not to be involved in rituals or illegalities. We treat with herbs when hospitals can't help, but we refer serious cases back to doctors. We are here to heal, not to harm," he said.
He condemned the actions of Ugoegu Nwaji, who reportedly exhumed his brother’s skull, and Nwodo Nwenyi, the alleged native doctor who bought it for ₦12,000 to perform an "Okite" ritual. Ekechi insisted that neither suspect belongs to the recognized ATMP body.
“We don’t recognize those individuals. The so-called native doctor is not even a true indigene. He is an outsider exploiting our land,” he added.
Ekechi further declared that the state government had banned any group parading itself as the National Association of Nigeria Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) and that only ATMP is officially recognized in Ebonyi.
“We have arrested ten illegal practitioners and handed them over to SWAT. We are inspecting clinics and vendors to weed out fake herbalists. Our fight is for health, not horror,” he stated.
The ATMP Chairman also appealed to the government for herbal processing equipment and commended Governor Francis Nwifuru’s leadership for supporting healthcare transformation in Ebonyi State.
However, controversy continues to cloud the sector, as a parallel group, the National Union of Medical Herbal Practitioners (NUMHP), has challenged ATMP’s sole authority in the state.
The NUMHP Ebonyi State Chairman, Dr. Stephen Ndubuisi Nwogha, accused unnamed actors of sidelining the national body in favour of a state-sponsored association lacking federal recognition.
Nwogha, who claimed to have been elected by a national process and holds a certificate of return, said political interests formed the current ATMP under the Commissioner for Health without proper consultation.
“I was called to serve as Public Relations Oficer, PRO when the current association was created, but it lacked national legitimacy. We issued federal licenses usable across states and even in outside Nigeria unlike ATMP’s Ebonyi state only reach,” he said.
Nwogha alleged that some individuals within the sector engage in ritual practices under the guise of traditional medicine practitioners and accused them of resisting reforms because of his opposition to harmful acts.
“They don’t want me because I won’t condone evil. I inspect clinics before licensing anyone. We’re here to save lives, not take them,” he said.
While affirming current cooperation with Ekechi on some issues, Nwogha called on the Ebonyi State Government to unite all factions and officially recognize the national union.
“We can end these dangerous practices if we are united. We need regulation, not rivalry,” he said.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) confirmed the detention of the suspects linked to the ritual case. The NSCDC Commandant, Francis Nnadi labeled the act as a “gruesome desecration of the dead” and assured that the suspects would face full prosecution.
As both groups called for unity and regulation, the future of traditional medicine in Ebonyi hangs on resolving the leadership rift and eradicating illegal ritual practices that threaten its credibility in the state.
