Eddy Nawgu

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Eddy Nawgu
Eddy Nawgu in his compound.jpeg
Eddy Nawgu In the Anioma healing centre
Born
Edward Onyebuchi Okeke

1957
Anambra state, Nigeria
Died9 November 2000 (aged 43)
Onitsha, Anambra
Other namesEddy na Nawgu, Edwin Okeke.
OccupationNigerian occultist
Spouse(s)Joyce Okeke

Eddy Nawgu (born Edward Onyebuchi Okeke)[1] was an alleged dreaded Nigerian sorcerer, occultist[2] and as described by the Nigerian media; a false prophet[3] who initially proclaimed himself to be a prophet of the biblical Abrahamic God.[4] He bore several sobriquets throughout his life time but was predominantly known in the mid-1990s as Eddy Nawgu alternatively spelt also as Eddie Nawgu amongst the igbo speaking people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.[5] His other notable sobriquet which was Eddy na Nawgu which when translated to the English language means Eddy in Nawgu came about because he was from the Nawgu community, a town situated in the Dunukofia LGA of Anambra State, Nigeria.[6]

Early life[]

He was born in Anambra State which is located in the eastern region of Nigeria, a geographical location and settlement inhabited predominantly by the Igbo speaking people of Nigeria.[4]

Ministry[]

At the young age of 29,[2] he formed an organization named the 'Anioma Healing Centre' The physical location of the organization was at his compound in his community at Nawgu, Anambra State.[7][8]

Recognition[]

During the mid-1990s in Onitsha, Anambra State, Eddy Nawgu had become a notable religious leader.[2]

Controversy[]

In the year 1999/2000, Nawgu, had become a person of interest in numerous crimes committed not only in the community, but across Anambra state as a whole and had begun to attract the attention of the Bakassi Boys; a vigilante security group which was set-up and spearheaded under the tenure of Chinwoke Mbadinuju, former governor of Anambra state.[9]

The Bakassi Boys allegedly weren't like any conventional vigilante group as they supposedly harnessed metaphysical powers otherwise referred to as Juju in Nigeria[10][11] which they allegedly used to aid them in tackling nefarious persons.

Nawgu had been accused of kidnapping, aiding & abetting infamous criminals, partaking in rituals involving use of human body parts, i.e. (the human skull) illegal possession of firearms and human sacrifice.[12][7][13]

Sorcery[]

The Bakassi Boys who had been credited for being able to apprehend defaulters of the law with minimal effort due to their supposed metaphysical abilities had come to meet their match when they failed 13 times[6] in their attempt to capture Nawgu due to the fact that he allegedly could defy the rules of conventional physics and had the ability to teleport whenever he was confronted by the vigilante group. According to the Nigerian media it took the effort of the leader of the vigilante group named Ngwuro[13] to allegedly strip Nawgu of his ability to teleport which finally led to his capture.[13]

Nawgu's alias was "Alusi N'eje Uka" this literary when translated to the English language means "The Deity Who Goes To Church".[14]

Death[]

Nawgu, when apprehended on the 14th trial by the vigilante group, was taken to their base of operation for further questioning and interrogation. His release to the Nigerian police was vehemently opposed as the Bakassi boys argued the police were very much corrupt and could easily be influenced.[15]

High-profile government workers and officials allegedly interceded for the release of Eddy Nawgu as reported by the head of the vigilante group, Mr. Ngwuro; however, the names of the political figures and government officials interceding for his release were never published.[13] He was eventually beheaded and had other parts of his body cut in little pieces by the Bakassi Boys after which all the parts were gathered together & set ablaze at the Ochanja Market in Anambra state, Nigeria.[16][2]

Legacy[]

In the year he died, all calendars printed in the south-eastern part of Nigeria all bore graphical depictions of his crimes up until his arrest and execution.[17]

In media[]

  • The Nigerian movie titled Onye Amuma was dedicated to Eddy Nawgu, it was a depiction of the rise and fall of Eddy Nawgu. which featured Nkem Owoh playing the role of a false prophet.
  • A Nigerian movie produced immediately after the death of Eddy Nawgu by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen in the year 2000 titled Issakaba, was a movie dedicated to Eddy Nawgu. It had four parts in which the very first part of the movie showed the formation of the vigilante group & also the tremendous effort put into the capturing of Eddy Nawgu, in which the Nigerian actor; Zulu Adigwe played the role of a false prophet.
  • In a Nigerian movie titled The Last Prophet which featured the Nigerian actor Zulu Adigwe playing the role of a false prophet was a movie dedicated to Eddy Nawgu.

Further reading[]

  • Harnischfeger, Johannes (2006). "State Decline and the Return of Occult Powers: The Case of Prophet Eddy in Nigeria"

References[]

  1. ^ Nwaka, Jacinta (2020). "The Return of the Gods? Trends and Implications of the Rising Popularity of Fetish Rituals and Occult Practices Among Nigerian Youth". Africa Development. 45 (3): 53–76. JSTOR 27000069 – via JSTOR.
  2. ^ a b c d Ekenna, Geoffrey (11 December 2000). "Nigeria: Death Of A "Miracle" Man". Newswatch (Lagos). Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  3. ^ I. J. Hackett, Rosalind (2001). "Prophets, "False Prophets," and the African State: Emergent Issues of Religious Freedom and Conflict". Nova Religio. 4 (2): 187–212. doi:10.1525/nr.2001.4.2.187. JSTOR 10.1525/nr.2001.4.2.187 – via JSTOR.
  4. ^ a b "Nigeriaworld Feature Article - Odeshi!". nigeriaworld.com. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Traditional Ruler Accuses Police of Aiding Eddy Nawgu". article.wn.com. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  6. ^ a b C, Anizoba Emmanuel (30 March 2019). "EDDY NAWGU HEALING MINISTRY: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PEOPLE OF NAWGU, DUNUKOFIA L.G.A". Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development. 2 (1).
  7. ^ a b "The Legitimization of Murder and Torture". www.hrw.org. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  8. ^ "PREORC Open Journals". journals.ezenwaohaetorc.org. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Beware the Bakassi Boys". The Economist. 17 May 2001. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  10. ^ McCall, John C. (2004). "Juju and Justice at the Movies: Vigilantes in Nigerian Popular Videos". African Studies Review. 47 (3): 51–67. doi:10.1017/S0002020600030444. ISSN 0002-0206. S2CID 143131341.
  11. ^ Canada, Immigration and Refugee Board of (14 February 2006). "Bakassi Boys; leadership, membership, activities, and treatment by authorities (January 2005 - February 2006) [NGA101051.E]". www.ecoi.net (in German). Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  12. ^ "The Untold Story of Eddy Nagwa was a disaster to human rights okara mmadu okara muo how "odeshi" began | Zangwap - wealth is brain". zangwap.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  13. ^ a b c d Johannes, Harnischfeger. "State Decline and the Return of Occult Powers: The Case of Prophet Eddy in Nigeria". Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft. 1. ISSN 1940-5111.
  14. ^ "The Truth About The Bakassi Boys". www.gamji.com. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  15. ^ Nzenwa, Leonard. "Nigeria: We Won't Give Up This Fight! - Bakassi Boss". allAfrica.
  16. ^ "Ochanja market: Populaly Known As Onitsha Bakassi killing spot". www.ashiwaju.org. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  17. ^ "See The Old Calendars That Summarised The Life And Death Of Popular Prophet Eddy Nawgu Okeke (Photo) - Opera News". ng.opera.news. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
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