Enugu: Tragedy as man drowns during “cleansing” ritual

Another disturbing tragedy has struck Enugu State, as a man reportedly drowned during a spiritual cleansing ritual performed by a popular female native doctor, popularly referred to as Ezenwanyi.

According to a viral video making the rounds on social media, the incident occurred at a riverbank where the man had been taken by the traditional healer for a spiritual cleansing exercise. Eyewitnesses at the scene could be seen expressing shock and frustration over what they described as the rising number of ritual-related incidents involving native doctors in the state.

In the footage, Ezenwanyi is seen standing by the riverside, chanting and gesturing in an apparent attempt to spiritually command the drowned man to resurface. Despite her repeated efforts, the man remained underwater, with bystanders lamenting his fate and calling for urgent scrutiny of such ritual practices.

This incident comes just days after another alarming case involving a native doctor in Enugu. That case involved shocking allegations that pregnant women and school children had been buried alive in a soakaway pit. The suspect in that case was arrested while reportedly attempting to flee the country.

The frequency of such tragic events has sparked public outrage, with many calling on the authorities to intensify regulation of traditional spiritual practices and investigate alleged ritual killings in the region.

As of the time of filing this report, local authorities are yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest drowning case.