In a sweeping and sensational move bound to rattle the shadowy underworld of mysticism and crime, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has taken a bold page from the playbook of Anambra State’s Governor Charles Soludo—waging an unprecedented war on money rituals, bulletproof charms, and illicit spiritual practices across the state.
This hard-hitting legal crusade, transmitted to the Enugu State House of Assembly under the explosive title “Maintenance of Internal Security, Vigilance and Order”, aims to uproot the deeply embedded nexus between criminal activity and spiritual manipulation—what many locals know as okite (money rituals) and odeshi (criminal bulletproof charms).
If passed, the Executive Bill will send tremors through the forest camps, shrines, and shadowy corners of traditional spiritual life in Enugu. It doesn’t just criminalize rituals for wealth and invincibility—it makes a thunderous statement: the era of unchecked mystical criminality is over.
At the heart of the bill lies a stunning clause: every person who renders “spiritual services” must now register with the state government—whether they go by herbalist, seer, diviner, chief priest, or even ezenwanyi. Failure to do so will carry a hefty fine ranging from ₦1 million to ₦5 million, or two years behind bars.
But that’s just the beginning.
Under Section 15, anyone caught using charms, substances, or rituals “to provide invincibility or supernatural wealth” will face a six-year prison sentence or a ₦5 million fine—or both. This includes those who perform or facilitate the practice, no matter how cloaked in tradition or spiritual legitimacy.
Crucially, anyone claiming to have supernatural powers will bear the burden of proof. “If you say you’re a miracle worker, prepare to show evidence,” one government insider told Time Africa. “Otherwise, it’s fraud.”
The bill doesn’t just target ritualists. Enugu’s increasingly dangerous forests—known hideouts for kidnappers, bandits, and ritual killers—are now in the legislative crosshairs. Anyone found loitering in forests without “lawful cause” can now be arrested and handed over to security forces.
Landowners beware: allowing your property to become a base for criminal operations, especially kidnapping or the detention of victims, now attracts a whopping 20-year prison sentence without the option of a fine. The same applies to religious or spiritual centres used for unlawful activity—they’ll be sealed immediately.
Even more chilling is Section 17: any person who performs or enables rituals involving human parts will be slammed with a 20-year jail term, with no option for bail or fines.
In a dramatic push for accountability, landlords, hoteliers, and town union presidents are now being drafted into the state’s security strategy. Hotel owners must install surveillance cameras and submit guest identification details to authorities. Landlords must collect and report valid IDs, phone numbers, and occupations of all tenants—failing which, they’ll face up to ₦1 million in fines.
Security reports are also no longer optional. Town union presidents are required to submit updates to local councils every month. And private security companies must fully register, including the names of all armed operatives on payroll.
The bill doesn’t stop at punishing crimes—it also mandates the forfeiture of any land, money, or assets linked to banditry, kidnapping, or ritual offences to the state government, unless a legitimate owner can prove otherwise.
Governor Mbah’s explosive legislation arrives at a time when the lines between traditional spirituality and crime have blurred in southeastern Nigeria. With sensational headlines of ritual killings, forest kidnappings, and odeshi-protected robbers becoming almost routine, the state appears determined to act before things spiral further.
“This is about reclaiming the soul of our state,” said a source close to the governor. “We can’t let superstition shield crime.”
Already, the bill has sparked fierce debate. While some traditionalists fear a clampdown on indigenous religion, others are applauding what they see as a long-overdue battle against cult-like criminality masquerading as spirituality.
If passed, Enugu’s bill will make history—one of the most comprehensive crackdowns on ritual crime and rogue mysticism ever proposed in Nigeria.
And if Governor Mbah’s message isn’t clear enough already, this legislation screams it: The days of hiding crime behind chants and charms are over.
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