Metro
Anambra Catholic Priest Resigns, Becomes Native Doctor
Dr. Echezona Obiagbaosogu, a former Catholic priest of 17 years, has announced his decision to leave the priesthood and fully embrace African traditional religion.
Obiagbaosogu, who now lectures on African Traditional Religion at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, said his fascination with African spirituality and rainmaking inspired his decision.
Speaking after defending his Ph.D. dissertation titled “Rainmaking and Control in Igbo African Medicine”, he highlighted the richness of Africa’s cultural and spiritual heritage, which he believes has been undermined by colonial influences.
“I have come to realize that my true calling is to serve my people through the ancient traditions of our ancestors,” Obiagbaosogu stated. He revealed that his research involved studying under a renowned native doctor, gaining a deep understanding of the traditional craft. His academic inquiry aims to recover and document Africa’s lost values and spiritual practices.
The Journey to Traditional Religion
Obiagbaosogu attributed his curiosity about nature and spirituality to his upbringing. “I partly lived with my maternal grandfather, a traditionalist, while my father, though a Christian, valued traditional materials and medicine,” he said. This dual exposure, combined with his work as a priest in the health sector, sparked his interest in the connection between health, nature, and spirituality.
His journey also included founding a school for African culture during his seminary days, where he witnessed a rainmaking demonstration that further deepened his interest in traditional practices.
Obiagbaosogu emphasized that his transition was not a rejection of God but a pursuit of a deeper and more authentic spiritual connection. He explained, “My research in rainmaking and control is rooted in finding the truth and understanding how native doctors preserve African values. I discovered that rainmaking is real and practiced by dibia (native doctors).”
He also discussed the interplay between magic, religion, and science, noting that modern science evolved from what was once considered magic. “The white man codified magical laws and called them science. Similarly, African magic—our native science—remains largely unexplored and misunderstood,” he said, advocating for its documentation and modernization.
Regarding his decision to leave the priesthood, Obiagbaosogu described it as a personal process of self-discovery and growth. While he declined to delve into the specifics, he said, “Life is a process. Things happen, and people begin to look left and right. Understanding oneself is crucial to making life decisions.”
Now married, Obiagbaosogu continues his mission to preserve African cultural heritage through research, education, and the promotion of traditional spiritual practices.
Troops of 22 Brigade under Operation Savannah Shield have repelled suspected terrorists, arrested two suspects, and recovered motorcycles during an offensive operation in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Security sources said the operation was conducted at about 11:09 a.m. on April 14 by troops deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Babanna, in collaboration with Combat Support Infantry Battalion XVI and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
According to the sources, the troops carried out coordinated clearance operations across Dekara, Dongoru, Bakimba, Jigga, Gidan Kambarawa and Masaka villages.
During the operation, troops made contact with the terrorists along the Masaka–Dekara road, forcing them to flee and abandon their motorcycles.
The sources added that the troops subsequently encountered an ambush but successfully fought through the attack, recovering additional motorcycles.
“In total, nine motorcycles were recovered during the operation, while two suspects were apprehended,” the sources said.
They noted that two tyres of a Combat Support Vehicle (CSK APC) were damaged during the encounter.
The suspects and recovered items are currently in military custody for further investigation, while operations are ongoing to track fleeing members of the group.
Troops conducting ongoing clearance operations under Operation Wutan Daji have rescued 12 kidnapped victims and arrested key associates of a fleeing bandit leader during coordinated offensives across forested areas linking Plateau and Taraba States.
A military source said the operations, carried out on April 15 and 16, involved troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade in conjunction with an Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) tactical team.
According to the source, the operations were conducted in the Dajin Madam and Kumbodoro forest axis, spanning parts of Plateau and Taraba States.
The source said the sustained offensive led to the recovery of 12 kidnapped victims who escaped from their captors during the pressure mounted by troops.
The victims were subsequently taken into custody for profiling before being moved to an Internally Displaced Persons facility in Fukuk.
Troops also recovered a Dane gun, a fabricated AK-47 rifle and a power bank during the operation.
The Bauchi State Government has dismissed a driver, Aminu Abdullahi, over a fatal road crash that claimed the lives of two journalists and left 11 others injured.
The crash involving a vehicle conveying 13 journalists occurred on February 6, 2026.
A cameraman with Channels Television, Kani Ben, d!ed from spinal cord injuries he sustained in the crash.
The dismissal was carried out by the Bauchi State Civil Service Commission (CSC) during its recent sitting.
The Commission disclosed that Abdullahi, a clerical assistant in the state civil service, was sacked for misconduct.
The CSC explained that the disciplinary action formed part of decisions taken during its 13th plenary session held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at its conference hall.
It added that Abdullahi’s termination was due to negligence while carrying out an assigned duty of driving.
According to the Commission, the misconduct contravened Rules 0312 and 0327 of the Bauchi State Public Service Regulations.
The CSC further stated that Abdullahi, a Grade Level 03 clerical assistant with the State Ministry of Higher Education, had been assigned “any other duty” and directed to drive a team of journalists covering activities of the North East Development Commission during the commissioning of projects in Alkaleri Local Government Area.“
“Aminu, who was accused of reckless driving, caused an accident involving more than 10 journalists. As a result, two persons lost their lives, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” the statement said.
The Commission noted that the action followed recommendations from the Ministry of Higher Education and resolutions of the State Executive Council on the disciplinary case.
Meanwhile, the CSC queried the management of the Ministry of Higher Education to explain why a clerical assistant was assigned the duties of a driver.
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