The village of Ezima in Isiala Mbano local government area of Imo State, witnessed an uncommon sight when an indigene, Charles Ikegwuruka, was driven into exile from the community in a wheelbarrow, for dragging his younger brother,Osiwu, to the dreaded Okija Shrine located in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State over a disagreement.
According to reports in the Southern City News, 55-year-old Ikegwuruka said that his younger brother had accused him of rendering his (Osiwu's) his wife barren through witchcraft.
He allegedly told the paper that after he consulted a native doctor, he was told that the woman had a marine husband and child and would not be able to bear children. The native doctor directed that the woman be brought to the shrine for cleansing.Charles, according to a source, later went to Osiwu and told him what the native doctor said and Osiwu agreed to convince his wife to go for the cleansing.
The report added:"On the day of the cleansing, the native doctor took them to a river, killed a goat and strangled a fowl. He made incantations and ordered her to strip naked for a bathe in the river. Osiwu and Charles were there and watched her perform as instructed.
"It was, however, learnt that the cleansing failed to cure the barrenness but instead, it led to a crisis between Charles and Osiwu.The conflict was further heightened when Osiwu received a letter from the Okija shrine, at the instance of Charles, summoning him and his wife to visit the shrine to swear an oath.
Osiwu reported the development to his kinsmen, who ordered Charles to withdraw the matter from Okija shrine but Charles told the elders that the shrine refused to approve that the matter be withdrawn.
Charles’ kinsmen immediately resolved that he must ride on a wheelbarrow with palm fronds tied around his neck to his maternal home and stay there until he withdrew the matter lodged before the dreaded Okija shrine.
