Following repeated carting away of valuables within key public infrastructure projects by yet to be identified hoodlums, stakeholders of a community in Enugu State have approached the deities of their land for security and protection.
The Point gathered that very expensive property and other building items at a newly constructed public hospital were recently stolen and vandalised in Ogurute Uno community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.
This development angered indigenes of the community and suspected that some insiders might have conspired with the thieves and vandals to perpetrate the crimes.
The community complained that the Police post serving it is far from the locations of the community’s key public infrastructure projects, leaving them with no other choice than to invoke deities and other gods of their land to watch over the facilities.
Specifically dedicating the newly constructed General Hospital to deities for protection, the Ogurute Uno community urged the gods to pursue and apprehend the perpetrators.
The community said the decision came after a series of vandalism and theft at the hospital, resulting in the loss of valuable equipment worth millions of naira, including an ambulance, children’s beds, solar panels, and television sets.
Some stakeholders in the community, who are adherents of traditional religion, brought sacred images and gods to the premises of the General Hospital, raining curses on the thieves and vandals.
Other members of the community, some of whom wore red clothes, were chanting some songs as the chief priests were pouring some substances on the deities.
The community members, women inclusive, asked the deities to retrieve the stolen items and prevent future recurrence while making incantations in Igbo language.
A community leader who was speaking to the deities expressed frustration and disappointment, stating that the community is being sabotaged by unknown individuals stealing the hospital’s equipment.
The community leader can be heard in a viral video saying, “The people here today are people of the Ogurute Uno community.
“This is Ogurute Uno General Hospital was built for us by the government.
“The government brought for us equipment for taking care of the sick in our villages. They also equipped this hospital to enable it to function for the benefits of our people.”
He lamented, saying, “But, thieves have stolen the equipment such as air-conditioners, solar battery, solar panels, an ambulance bus, TV sets, wheelchairs, stretchers, ceiling fans, children’s beds.
“And to think that these things were provided not too long ago is more worrisome.
“This is the main reason we have come together and agreed to hand over this General Hospital to the deities here. Yes, it may look as if we are going too far but we have suffered from the wickedness of man. And we want to put a stop to it.”
He stated, “Any man or woman who said he or she is not happy about this hospital and has a hand in the missing items, let the deities take care of them.”
The community however said that they would forgive the thieves if they returned the stolen items as soon as possible otherwise, the deities would visit such persons.