The Enugu State Government has initiated a statewide enforcement operation targeting unregistered native doctors, also known as traditional healers or dibia.
Through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, authorities have begun arresting practitioners who have not obtained the required licenses to operate. The move follows earlier directives from the state requiring all native doctors to register with the ministry and verify their practices, including charms and shrines, often at the local government level.
A task force from the ministry has reportedly raided villages and communities across the state to identify and apprehend unlicensed operators. In some cases, arrested individuals have been taken into custody, with reports of shrines being inspected and items such as locked keys symbolizing spiritual or ritual objects documented during operations.
The government has emphasized that the policy aims to regulate traditional practices, curb potential abuses, and ensure only verified practitioners continue their work. Previous announcements urged native doctors to comply with registration to avoid arrest.
Social media footage and eyewitness accounts show enforcement actions in progress, with some residents expressing support for the initiative as a step toward greater oversight and public safety.
Others have urged unregistered practitioners to promptly register to prevent further detentions.This development comes amid broader concerns in parts of Nigeria about unregulated traditional medicine and occasional links to criminal activities, though the current operation focuses specifically on licensing compliance rather than specific allegations of wrongdoing.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has not yet released official figures on the number of arrests.
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