Anambra Government Wants Residents to Report Fake Pastors and Traditional Healers

The Anambra State Government has urged people living in the state to share information about fake pastors and traditional healers who pretend to be religious while committing crimes.

Law Mefor, the Commissioner for Information in Anambra, made this announcement in a statement on Sunday.

“The government is asking Ndị Anambra and everyone in the state with reliable information about pastors, churches, or so-called ‘men of God’ involved in crimes, extortion, fraud, deception, or anything that puts lives and the peace of our communities at risk to please speak up,” Mr Mefor said.

He explained that this call came after the government decided to extend its current “war against fake native doctors” to include fake pastors and those “pretending to be real men and women of God” while engaging in illegal activities.

“This is part of the efforts of the ‘solution government’ to clean up the state from all types of crime and improve both traditional worship and religious practices to bring back order and peace in the state,” he stated.

He emphasized that fighting against fake pastors and traditionalists would protect the “true freedom of traditional worship and religious practice” in Anambra.

“Let us join hands to take back our state from criminals hiding behind religion, culture, and tradition,” Mr Mefor added.

He provided a mobile phone number and asked residents to reach out to the government with any “helpful information” about fake pastors and traditional healers involved in crime.

Governor Soludo’s administration began a crackdown on suspected fake pastors last year. They were allegedly taking advantage of residents under the guise of religion.

The administration also targeted native doctors and other spiritualists who help criminals by making charms for robbers, kidnappers, and terrorists.

Since this campaign started, one native doctor, Chukwudozie Nwangwu, has been found guilty and sentenced, while another native doctor, Johnpaul Ezenagu, is currently on trial.

Mr Nwangwu, also known as ‘Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki,’ was sentenced to 12 years in prison for crimes related to ritual practices, robbery, conspiracy, preparing charms for criminals, and supporting internet fraudsters.

Mr Ezenagu is facing trial for similar crimes.

In the same vein, eight suspected fake pastors were brought before a state high court in Awka earlier this month for allegedly breaking the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025.

The court later ordered that the pastors be kept in prison.

The campaign against fake pastors and traditional healers started in January 2025 when Governor Soludo signed the Anambra State Homeland Security Bill 2025 into law.

This law, in addition to creating the Agunechemba vigilante group, also banned the making of charms for crime and the performing of sacrifices along roads in the state.

It targets native doctors who make charms for criminals disturbing residents of the South-eastern state.

The law also prohibits the practice of Oke-Ite and Ezenwanyi aimed at wealth accumulation through supernatural means.

It carries a penalty of six years in prison or a fine of N20 million or both for those found guilty.