ABAKALIKI — The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and Senator representing Ebonyi North, Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has strongly condemned the alleged harassment and public humiliation of an Ebonyi indigene, Mr. Michael Eje, by some youths in Nkpor, Anambra State, after he reportedly killed a snake considered sacred in the community.
The incident, which was captured in a viral video circulating on social media, showed Mr. Eje being paraded around the community, beaten, and ridiculed for killing the snake.
Senator Nwebonyi described the act as “barbaric and unacceptable in the 21st century,” stressing that the victim’s rights were grossly violated. He called on the Anambra State Government, led by Governor Charles Soludo, to publicly condemn the incident and take immediate action to prevent such occurrences in the future.
“I wonder why a man should be subjected to such a harrowing experience for killing a snake that posed a threat to him,” the Senator said.
The lawmaker urged Governor Soludo to show the same urgency he displayed when renaming Abakaliki Street in Awka, by addressing this matter of human rights violation. He further directed the chairman of the Ebonyi State Indigenes Association in Anambra, Chief Moses Ofoke, to meet with the victim and his wife for a detailed report that would guide further intervention.
Victim’s Account
Recounting his ordeal, Mr. Eje, a native of Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, said he was working on a construction site when he came across the snake hidden under old blocks. According to him, the snake suddenly lunged at him, forcing him to kill it in self-defense.
He explained that he had no knowledge of the local belief that killing snakes was forbidden.
Despite this, he was beaten, forced to chant dirges for the snake, and paraded around the community in a humiliating manner. The youths later demanded a fine of ₦50,000, which he had to pay.
Eje and his wife described the incident as traumatic and dehumanizing. They expressed gratitude to Senator Nwebonyi for speaking up swiftly but also appealed to the government for justice, so that non-indigenes living and working in Anambra communities can be protected from such abuses.
Call for Justice
The Senator’s reaction has sparked conversations about cultural practices, human rights, and the protection of non-indigenes across Nigerian communities. While many communities hold strong beliefs about sacred animals, Nwebonyi stressed that no tradition should be allowed to trample on the dignity and fundamental rights of any citizen.
