Eddy Nawgu

Eddy Nawgu// ⓘ (born Edward Onyebuchi Okeke// ⓘ)[1] was a Nigerian alleged 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 as Eddie Nawgu among Igbo people.[5] An alternative form of this name, Eddy na Nawgu, which translates to Eddy in Nawgu, came about because he was from the Nawgu community, a town situated in the Dunukofia LGA of Anambra State, Nigeria.[6]

Eddy Nawgu
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
SpouseJoyce Okeke

Early life

Nawgu was born in Anambra State in eastern Nigeria, a region predominantly populated by the Igbo people.[4]

Ministry

At the age of 29,[2] Nawgu formed an organization named the 'Anioma Healing Centre' The organization was headquartered at his compound in Nawgu, Anambra State.[7][8] Throughout the mid-1990s, Eddy Nawgu became a notable religious leader in Onitsha, Anambra State.[2]

Controversy

In the years 1999 and 2000, Nawgu became a person of interest in numerous crimes committed not only in the community, but across Anambra state as a whole. This begun to attract the attention of the Bakassi Boys, a vigilante security group which was set up and spearheaded by Chinwoke Mbadinuju, former governor of Anambra state.[9]

The Bakassi Boys were alleged to harness metaphysical powers referred to as Juju in Nigeria.[10][11]

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

Sorcery

The Bakassi Boys failed 13 times[6] to capture Nawgu, and this was explained by the myth that he could defy the rules of conventional physics and had the ability to teleport. 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, leading to his capture.[13]

Nawgu's alias was "Alusi N'eje Uka", translating to "The Deity Who Goes To Church".[14]

Death

Nawgu, when apprehended by the Bakassi Boys, was taken to their base of operation for further questioning and interrogation. He was released to the Nigerian police, to the opposition of the Bakassi boys, who argued that the police were 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 cut to 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, many calendars printed in the south-eastern part of Nigeria bore graphical depictions of his crimes up until his arrest and execution.

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. 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. "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. 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. "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. 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.
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