A popular Anambra-based native doctor, popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki, has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by an Anambra State High Court.

The conviction follows his guilty plea to multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, and related offences linked to ritual killings and other criminal activities.

Court documents and security sources indicate that the sentencing came after the suspect admitted guilt during proceedings, paving the way for the judge to deliver the 12-year term.

In a related development, the Anambra State Government has demolished the suspect’s shrine and related structures as part of efforts to dismantle facilities associated with the crimes.

The case has drawn significant public attention due to Akwa Okuko’s notoriety and the gruesome nature of the allegations.

Authorities say the conviction and demolition underscore the state’s zero-tolerance stance on ritual-related crimes and insecurity.

By Christian ABURIME

The era of the flamboyant social media traditionalist, Chidozie Nwangwu famously known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki has come to a dramatic and legal conclusion.

Appearing before Justice Jude Obiora at the Anambra State High Court in Awka, Nwangwu pleaded guilty to multiple charges brought against him by the State Government.

The high-profile traditionalist was arraigned following his arrest in February 2025 by the specialized security outfit, Agunechemba.

The charges against the him was severe, ranging from conspiracy to commit kidnapping to obtaining by fraud and promoting the controversial “Oke Ite” rituals.

The state alleged these practices were used to “fortify” criminals and provide spiritual cover for gunmen, directly violating the Anambra Homeland Security Law enacted by the State Government.

Under a plea bargain agreement, Nwangwu was convicted on counts three through eight by Justice Obiora. Having already spent 13 months in custody, the judge ordered him to serve a remaining 11 months at the Awka Correctional Center.

While the court struck out four counts and waived a N60 million fine, the conditions for his eventual release are stringent. Nwangwu must serve as an ambassador for youth re-orientation and issue a public statement denouncing “Oke Ite” practices, among others.

His counsel, Sylvester Iwuoba, confirmed that the judgment aligns with the agreement reached with the state, assuring that his client would fulfill his side of the bargain.

In compliance with the legal proceedings, the Anambra State Government moved to enforce the “zero-tolerance” policy of the Soludo administration on all manners of criminality.

Operatives of Agunechemba immediately stormed Nwangwu’s compound in Oba, Idemili South LGA, to carry out a “surgical operation” against fetish criminality. The main shrine was demolished, and various ritual items including the “Oke Ite” (the Big Pot) were publicly burned.

Under the Homeland Security Law, the state officially took possession of the expansive premises, which will now be repurposed for public use, just as Nwangwu is permanently prohibited from practicing “Oke Ite” or administering charms associated with criminal fortification.

“This is not an attack on tradition, but a surgical operation against criminality disguised as religion,” stated Mr. Ken Emeakayi, Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Community Security.

“By burning this shrine, we are sending a final warning: if you use your ‘powers’ to aid kidnappers, the law will find you, and your legacy will be reduced to ashes.

“The fall of Akwa Okuko serves as a landmark enforcement of the state’s security laws, signaling a definitive end to the influence of celebrity traditionalists found to be aiding the state’s insecurity.

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has called on President Bola Tinubu for urgent federal support to curb escalating banditry in Alkaleri Local Government Area, warning that continued attacks could shatter more than ten years of relative calm in the state.

The governor made the appeal after a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He described how armed groups operating from forest corridors have intensified sporadic raids, overwhelming local security outfits and displacing communities.

“These attacks are becoming more frequent and brazen,” Mohammed stated. “They are disrupting the peace we have enjoyed for over a decade and forcing many residents to abandon their homes and farmlands.”

The governor said he presented a comprehensive security report detailing the incidents to the president, who in response directed the immediate reinforcement of security operations in the affected areas.

Mohammed also used the occasion to dismiss widespread speculation that his visit to Abuja was linked to alleged plans to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I remain firmly in the PDP,” he declared. “This meeting was strictly about the security and welfare of Bauchi people, nothing more.”

The development comes amid growing concerns over banditry and kidnapping in parts of northern Nigeria, where state governments have repeatedly sought enhanced military and intelligence support from the federal government to restore stability in rural communities.