Despite the fact that man has progressively moved away from primitive behaviours and culture that cause harm and diminish his dignity, there still exist barbaric customs and practices in some parts of Nigeria.
The existence of “IKE OFO” festival and the babaric rituals that take place behind the scene in Umuode, Abia state in Nigeria is worrisome. There are cases of barbarism that happen days before the final ceremony. Stories have it that both male and female appear half naked in mid night. While female adults are circumcised ,adult males are made to take blood oath of secrecy and drink unhygienic concoctions. Those who undergo this ritual are regarded as full fledged members of the community. They are entitled to all traditional rights and protection. They are permitted to own and inherit landed properties belonging to their families and kindreds. On the other hand, those who refuse to undergo the ritual are treated as outcasts. They are deprived of so many traditional rights and suffer persecution.
However, while it’s tolerable for a non -royal member of the community to avoid the ritual, it is a sacrilege for a member of the royal family not to undergo the IKE OFO rituals.
The royal family is the custodian of the custom. No member of the royal family can afford to act contrary. Disobedience attracts severe punishments which are mainly diabolical and ultimately lead to death.
This is the sad experience of one Mr Uchenna Kingsley Ezegbulam and his family .
Mr UCHENNA is a member of the EZEGBULAM royal family and his uncle Dike Ezegulam is the current EZE (king) of his people (Ikenna 5th of Umuode Autonomous community).
It is on record that the kingship stool was keenly contested between Uchenna’s father, Augustine Ezegblam and the current Eze. In fact the contest caused serious crack in the relationship of the two brothers.
Though Uchenna was forced to performe some stages of his own rituals years back as an adolescent, trouble broke out when the royal family and Eze-in-Čouncil demanded that his family be brought to the village for IKE OFO festival/final initiation. His wife Adaeze Chidiebere vowed that her and her children will not be subjected to such babaric and inhuman treatment base on her Christian faith. Uchenna, also a devout Christian, stood by his wife.
The battle line was drawn and there have been attacks and persecution on Uchenna and his wife and three children for almost 3 years now. Series of strange attacks , illness, and misfortune have been their lot. From investigation it was revealed that Mr Uchenna and his family have been hiding and living as fugitives in their own country thereby losing their sources of livelihood.
The king, fuelled by existing enemity between him and Uchenna’s father, rallied the people and custom , and the Chief priest, including the dreaded ‘ Alumerechi’ deity , behind him to chase Uchenna and his family away from the community. His family house was attacked and part of it razed down. They live in perpetual fear now.
Uchenna’s father is using this medium to call on Abia state government and security agents to intervene and save his son and family.
Also, this incident is a wake up call on religious bodies and civil society groups to redouble their efforts in sensitizing the public on the need to eradicate primitive and barbaric practices that still exist in some areas of the state.
