The fear of deities in Igbo land is the beginning of wisdom.These days the reinvention or mere mention of powerful deities in time of danger may have saved the lives of four journalists in Okija,Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State during the recently concluded November 6 Anambra State Governorship Election.
It was discovered that the journalists, Afam Aminu Chimezie of Business News Newspaper, Gloria Anaeze of Daily Independent Newspaper, Eche Nwaobasi also of Daily Independent Newspaper and Chike Ifedi of Anambra State Government Newspaper, National Light had a close encounter with death as some hoodlums at Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State had on November 6 this year during the Anambra State Governorship Election attempted to burn the four journalists and some election observers inside the Golf car they had boarded for the election coverage.
According to one of the victims, Gloria Anaeze an indigene of Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State but married to an Umuoji man in Idemili North LocaI Government of the state,” it could be the mention of “Ulasi Deity” during the unfortunate incident that saved my life and other journalists, including the election observers.”
According to Mrs Anaeze, “iam your grand child ,my Grandmother is from Ubahumonu Okija and as an indigene of Ozubulu l know the powers inhibited in Ulasi Deity which has both male and female.”
” People from my area,Okija, Ihiala and other neighbouring communities worshipped and has great respect and fear for Ulasi which has a river called “Ulasi River”.
“It also has a Deity that is highly referred by people around Ekwusigo,Nnewi, Ihiala and surrounding communities due to its enormous spiritual powers and forbids the spill of blood of any indigene who has link to it.”
The journalist who is yet to recover from the shock of the attack after losing her handset,cash and hard beaten alongside her colleagues to the hoodlums cried out to the Anambra State Government and other relevant bodies to assist her and her colleagues hirecover fully from the nightmare as they seem to have been abandoned shortly after the incident.
Afam Aminu Chimezie of Business News Newspaper who suffered the same fate with other journalists at the scene of the incident described the attack as “gruesome”.
Mr.Chimezie the leader of the team on the Governorship Election day who spoke to our correspondent from Udi-Town, Enugu State where he had gone to celebrate one year anniversary of his father’s demise lamented that nobody nor government agency had called nor expressed solidarity with the affected journalists in their time of trial.
He pleaded with the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, the Governor-Elect,Prof.Chukwuma Soludo, Inspector-General of Police,Alkali Usman,INEC Chairman,Mamud Yakub and other NGO’s to assist them continue with the practice of their much cherished profession.
By Oge Onyeanusi, Onitsha
