A native doctor, identified as Mike India, escaped death by a whisker in Edoha community, in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State following the discovery of about 300 pictures of residents in a shrine he allegedly operated.
According to reports, some youths in the area intercepted India at midnight while he was performing a ritual.
The group reportedly interrogated him, as he was unable to give a good account of his mission as well as what he was up to at such odd hour.
They were said to have raised the alarm, which attracted more villagers to the scene.
The youth were reported to have compelled India to take them to his shrine in a nearby forest, where they found photographs of both dead and living natives.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the youth were angered by the discovery, especially after they identified some of the people in the pictures, some of whom were facing health challenges.
The shrine was razed, as the native doctor took to his heels.
“So many things were seen. A segment had peoples’ pictures; more than 300 pictures. Bundles of pictures were just chained together.
“In the chain, you will see different sizes of padlocks. Some of the pictures recovered there, the people had died, but their pictures were there.
“The ones that are alive have health challenges like stroke and blindness. In fact, one woman that I know very well came to the scene yesterday (Tuesday) and she regained her sight all of a sudden.
“Some of the pictures were burnt by the youth, while others are still there,” the resident said.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident, adding that the state Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, had ordered an investigation into it.
He said, “I can confirm the incident of yesterday at Edoha community in the Ahoada East LGA, where a certain native doctor’s house (shrine) was attacked. The native doctor escaped for fear of being killed by the youth of Edoha.
“However, we have been able to arrest the situation. The Divisional Police Officer and the area commander were all there and were able to restore normalcy.
“So far, we cannot ascertain the level of casualty or carnage as a result of that incident, but I can assure you that at the end of the day, we will be able to know all of that.
“Whoever is found culpable will be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.”
