This is the 21st century. Subjecting a man to such humiliation for killing a snake in self-defense is unacceptable.
By Crime Desk Editor
Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State and Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, Senate Deputy Chief Whip who is representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has condemned in strong terms the harassment and humiliation of Ebonyi indigenes in Anambra State, following a viral video showing an Ebonyi man tortured for allegedly killing a sacred snake in Nkpor community, Idemili North Local Government Area.
This was contained in a press statement issued and made available to journalists by the Special Assistant to the Senate Deputy Chief Whip on Media and Publicity, Romanus Uzor during the weekend.
According to the statement, in the disturbing footage, Mr. Michael Eje, an Ebonyi native from Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was paraded half-naked, beaten, and forced to chant dirges for the snake before being extorted of N50,000 as “fine” by youths of the community.
Senator Nwebonyi described the treatment as barbaric, unlawful, and a gross violation of human dignity.
He demanded a categorical condemnation from the Anambra State Government and concrete steps to forestall further harassment of Ebonyi indigenes in the state.
“This is the 21st century. Subjecting a man to such humiliation for killing a snake in self-defense is unacceptable.
"The Anambra State Government must speak up and back words with action. Silence in the face of this barbarity is complicity,” the senator declared.
Nwebonyi, a senior lawyer and rights advocate, revealed that he dispatched the Chairman of Ebonyi Indigenes in Anambra, Chief Moses Ofoke, to meet the victim and his wife.
Findings confirmed that Mr. Eje, while clearing a building site, encountered the snake coiled under blocks and killed it as it charged at him.
In his Ezza community, the species, locally called Ikputu, is considered edible and poses no cultural restriction.
The senator warned that he would institute legal action against the perpetrators if the Anambra authorities fail to act, stressing that no custom or tradition overrides the constitutionally guaranteed rights of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the victim and his wife, who recounted the ordeal, expressed gratitude to Senator Nwebonyi for his prompt intervention and urged authorities to ensure justice to prevent a recurrence.
