Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has submitted a new bill to the State House of Assembly aimed at tackling ritual killings, spiritual practices linked to crime, and illegal occupation of forests and private lands.
The proposed law, titled *‘Maintenance of Internal Security, Vigilance and Order’*, introduces sweeping regulations on spiritual activities, criminalises ritual-based practices for wealth or protection, and imposes strict penalties for the misuse of land.
Under Section 3 (1) of the bill, all spiritual practitioners in the state, including native doctors, herbalists, seers, diviners, and chief priests, must register with a state-designated agency. Failure to do so will attract a fine ranging from one to five million naira, up to two years imprisonment, or both.
The bill targets ritual activities believed to promote crime or sudden wealth. Section 15 criminalises practices like ‘okite’ and ‘odeshi’, rituals commonly used for spiritual protection or the supernatural acquisition of wealth. Anyone found using charms or substances under the guise of spirituality to facilitate crime or gain wealth outside legal means faces six years imprisonment, a fine of at least five million naira, or both. The same section penalises false claims of supernatural powers used to mislead the public for financial or social gain. Conviction will lead to three years imprisonment or a minimum three million naira fine. The law places the burden of proof on the individual claiming such powers, requiring them to demonstrate these abilities during investigations.
Section 16 focuses on the misuse of religious facilities, stating that any place of worship used to commit or support crime will be sealed and the individual responsible could face six years in prison or a fine of at least five million naira. Section 17 provides a 20-year prison sentence, without the option of a fine, for any individual who engages in ritual killings involving human body parts.
Security concerns also extend to land use. Section 13 mandates that anyone found in a forest or bush without a valid reason and under suspicious circumstances must be handed over to security agencies. The bill criminalises the use of forests and private properties for banditry, kidnapping, and ransom collection. Convicted persons could face up to 20 years imprisonment without the option of a fine. Property owners who allow non-security individuals to camp or settle on their land for non-agricultural reasons face up to two years in prison. Landlords who fail to report suspicious activity on their property are also liable.
Furthermore, any property used in connection with kidnapping, robbery, or banditry will be forfeited to the state. Proceeds from such crimes, if not claimed by a verified owner, will also become state property.
Private security firms operating in the state must register with the government and provide the identities of all armed personnel. Community leaders, particularly town union presidents-general, are required to submit monthly security reports to their local government chairmen or appointed authorities.
The bill imposes responsibilities on landlords, estate managers, and hotel operators to collect and report identification, occupation, and contact details of new tenants and guests. Hotels and lodging establishments must install surveillance cameras and submit footage to security authorities when requested. Landlords who fail to comply could be fined at least five hundred thousand naira, while hotel owners risk fines of up to one million naira.
This proposed legislation follows similar measures in Anambra State, where Governor Chukwuma Soludo launched Operation Udogachi in response to ritual-related crimes. That crackdown has led to the arrest of several popular native doctors, including Chidozie Nwangwu (known as Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki), Onyebuchi Okocha (Onyeze Jesus), and Ekene Igboekweze (Eke Hit), since March.
If passed, Enugu’s bill will introduce some of the strictest controls on spiritual and land-related activities in Nigeria’s southeastern region, signaling a firm commitment by the state government to address crime through legal and cultural reform.