Crisis rocks Umuoji as Udume Shrine Burnt by Christian group

www.odogwublog.com fan in Umuoji sent in this piece .Udume is an ancestral oracle worshiped by the for-fathers of Umuoji kingdom in Idemili North Local government area of Anambra state.

The ancient Udume Abor has a chief priest authorized by the custodian of Umuoji people to take care of Udume and also his followers too.

The burning of Udume staff took place on 7^th January 2015 by three 3pm by one faction of Christian group after having their 3 days prayer in a popular uzoiyi Umuoji stadium which during the prayer the whole people in Umuoji was ordered to lock up their shops and market for the said 3 days prayer.

On that 7th January according to the eye witness who spoke to www.odogwublog.com  correspondent that a group of Christian rose that day singing while matching straight to Udume Abor shrine and entered inside the shrine after a thoroughly search for the staff proceed to the chief priest house at Ifite Umuoji.

The eye witness then followed the gradually and quietly, said they entered the said oracle shrine and ransack the area and the staff was no way to be found.

According to report, the alleged Christian group was led by one Simon Akpaka of Amoji Umuoji, who went straight to the chief priest house and discovered the staff and set it ablaze.

According to the eye witness who helped to put out the fire, the fire would have razed down the new building owned by the chief priest as the chief priest was not in the house when the incident took place.

The correspondent who later visited the area to ascertain the level of damage and what inspired the whole scenario gathered that the fire burnt the paramount staff and other traditional valuables.

Reaction on the development, the victim who is the chief priest Mr. Samuel Nweke Nwankwo, express sad over the development as he alleged that the burning of the Udume Abor staff and other deity, as well as items brought by people to work for them in his house will take over 9 million naira to re-situate it.

According to Mr. Nweke, since the inception of Umuoji kingdom it is a taboo for the paramount god staff to burnt with fire.

The chief priest who narrated his ordeal lamented that he saw the alleged Christian group on the road without knowing that his house and the shrine were where they are going.

The most annoying part of the whole thing is that the alleged Simon Akpaka after burning the oracle staff went straight to the chief priest Mother’s house and announced that he has destroyed the Udume Abor, he said.

Mr. Nweke however, expressed unhappiness that others in Igbo land were busy organizing and taking care of their culture not to go on extinct for their future generation to know about their tradition and culture, some people are here destroying their identity.

He called on Federal and state government as well as stakeholders in Igbo tradition and culture to look into this dastardly act and come to his help.

Reacting on the development, the culture chairman in Umuoji kingdom Dr. Fidelis Nwankwo Ibekwe condemned the unholy act as this is a sin and injustice against humanity.

Chief Ibekwe who calmed the aggrieved youths who wanted to protest spoke on how the prayer was planned with the caretaker committee Umuoji Improvement Union, Mr. Basil Okonkwo, the traditional monarch, cabinets and the entire Umuoji people but not on this manner.

According to him, the ancient Umuoji kingdom is known for rich tradition and cultural heritage in Idemili North local government area.

He cited the killing of a python by a group of Christian in Umuoji which is a sacrilege in their land, wondered why other tribes in the country were busy re-situating their culture not to go on extinct for them to have stories to tell their coming generation while Umuoji people were busy destroying their own.

He noted that paramount god staff burning with fire is an abomination adding that the alleged Christian group entered into where they are not suppose to enter and warned that if such repeat it will not augur well, while expressing regret that this will take over millions of naira to reverse it.

Another idle worshiper whose shrine and house was burnt at Idoma Umuoji, Mr. Andy Mbanusi lamented that his deity was destroyed.

He expressed dismay that those who master mind the act was heartless, adding it will took him millions of naira to reverse it and build another house.

The www.odogwublog.com correspondent after visiting the said paramount staff of Udume Abor at chief priest house visited the traditional ruler of Umuoji Igwe Cyril Enweze who spoke extensively on how the prayer day was planned.

“This prayer was planned several months ago, as they came and it is inter-denominational which involved catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal churches said that they want to pray for the peace and progress of Umuoji Town for about five days but later agreed for three days” he said.

According to the monarch, their letter was read and discussed at Igwe in council who saw it as brilliant idea from a brilliant mind.

“We said to them, we have a very important market day in Umuoji which is EKE DAY, that Umuoji doesn’t joke with EKE DAY.

“It is the most important day which needed respect and urged them to make it peacefully as Christian preach peace and love of their neighbors, Live and Let Live.

Igwe Cyril disclosed that UIU met with them and approved by the whole Umuoji people, they agreed upon but hearing such nasty news maybe someone want to ignite crisis” he said.