…Urges Public to Reject Superstition
By Stanley Okehie
A human rights advocate, Dr. Leo Igwe has dug up a charm buried on a landed property at Ishiuzo Egbu in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.
The property belongs to Mr. Donald Mgbeahuruike, who resides Overseas. He had contracted Engr. Uche Opara to clear the property to commence development on the site, but the discovery of the charm made him to suspend the project.
Speaking to Journalists after evacuating the charm, Dr. Igwe, who directs Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW), a humanitarian organization that advocates for the rights of vulnerable people, especially those falsely accused and persecuted for witchcraft, dismissed claims that the charm possesses supernatural powers capable of harming people.
“About three weeks ago, a friend contacted me about this bottle buried here. He told me that he had implored some of his relatives, including those who are religious, to come and remove the bottle, but they refused. So, he approached me to come and help him remove it, and I agreed because it is in line with what we do at AfAW,” Igwe explained.
He added that there was nothing powerful about the bottle that could harm workers or stop the development of the property.
“It took me less than three minutes to remove this thing that had stopped people from working here,” Igwe added, describing the charm as a tool used to intimidate people and halt progress and development.
He condemned the practice of using charms to discourage development, noting that many unsuspecting people had been extorted by individuals who demand money to remove supposed charms from homes, businesses and landed properties.
He noted that many people abandoned valuable projects because of fear of alleged witchcraft and fetish objects, stressing that such beliefs often exposed them to exploitation by individuals claiming to possess spiritual powers.
Dr. Igwe said he had assisted several people in overcoming similar fears, enabling them to continue with projects they had almost abandoned.
He urged members of the public to embrace critical thinking, shun belief in fetish objects, and avoid fear for the growth and development of society.
Engr. Uche Opara had earlier expressed fear that the charm could harm anyone who worked on the site or attempted to remove it, which made him stay far away from the scene during the excavation.
The owner of the property, Mr. Donald Mgbeahuruike, thanked the AFAW Director for his courage, noting that he had considered different options, including the outright sale of the property, after the charm was discovered on the site.