Since the news of a "healing pool," known as
Orimiri and located in a forest about 3km from the Nachi bus stop along
Onitsha/Enugu road, was discovered, the community has become a pilgrimage
center with no fewer than 3000 people thronging the place daily. From morning
till evening, okada ply through that narrow and sandy path carrying passengers
and their loads of jerry cans to the stream.
The believers
The physically challenged, aged, young, men, women, some of
them naked, and children dip themselves naked in the 3-4-feet deep stagnated
water, wash the ailing parts of their bodies believing they will be healed.
Others scoop up water from different holes dug around the bank into their
plastic containers of various sizes believing even the sand under the water is
as effective as the stream itself. The trees in the surroundings are also not spared
as people chop trees into various sizes with a claim that it cures all kinds of
sicknesses.
Most of the visitors say they believe it will work.
A middle-aged woman, who refused to give her real name,
said: "I just came here for to exercise my faith. I have not seen anyone
though, but I believe it. I just had a bath in the water, and I believe it. I
believe God that I will be okay."
Donatus Ike claims he has been coming to the stream on a
daily basis since the news of the healing power broke: "I always come here
every day to work. I guide people in doing certain things here. The water has
healing power. A lot of people came from far and near. Not too long ago, Rev.
Mbaka came here, he prayed for people. The lame will work, the blind will see.
You can see a crutch over there; it was dropped by somebody who couldn't
work."
Amobi Chukwu, in his own view, said: "I think it is all
about faith. What you call medicine is medicine for you. I also believe the
water has healing power. The water is dirty, and it was because a lot of people
come here and bath inside the water, and you know this is not a flowing river.
That is why people dig the river bank to get better water to drink. It is
drinkable."
The skeptical ones
However, Rev. Father Chikezie Cypril a.k.a Okanga Jesus, the
Parish Priest, St. Michael Catholic Church, Oji, Enugu, described those who
seek healing from the stream are spiritual puppets. Cypril, who is also the
Chaplain of the Physically Challenged in the area, he is yet to hear about
people who benefit from the water.
"I don't believe it," Rev. Father said.
"I am the chaplain of the physically challenged, and
none of them has come to me to give that testimony of healing, and this is
happening in their area. I mean not even one person has come to confirm it. I
know that most of them have gone there and nothing is happening.
"So, you see, people tend to confuse you with certain
things. As I am speaking to you, no member of this community has shared a
testimony about the water.
"You see, one has to be very sensible about it; a lot
of people are making money on this situation. For example, if you tell the
Okada riders who are making money from the situation that it is not real, they
will say you don't know what you are talking about. But let us trust God, power
belongs to God. It is when we commune with God that we see the power of God in
our lives. I see those who go there as spiritual puppets."
In the same vein, Chief Ignatius Ene Chikeluba, who claimed
he was born in the farmland, gave insight into the beginning of the whole
parody. He stated that it was the Fulani herdsmen who concocted and spread the
story of healing power without any clear evidence.
"Throughout the period I stayed in the farmland, we
have never heard about the healing power being ascribed to the water,"
Chikeluba stated, "It is a concoction of the Fulani herdsmen. I know that
revelation from God can come through anybody. But my advice to them is that
whatever they are saying should be the whole truth and nothing but the
truth."
The traditional ruler of Nachi community, His Royal
Highness, Igwe F.O.Onuigbo, Obi II of Nachi, in his own submission, said the
water has been there for a very long time, adding that the healing power
ascribed to it was only a recent phenomenon which he did not confirm.
"River Nachi is natural water which has been there for
a very long time. People use it for their cooking, drinking and washing. The
healing power is something new and I have not visited the place. But the water
has been there before. People said it is healing; I can't stop anybody from
going there to seek cure and healing. I have no right to do that."
Igwe Onuigbo said he didn't know about the coming and
occasional surge of the water. He confirmed that the land where the water is
situated has been in dispute between Ameke and Umuaga for a very long time, adding
that efforts are on-going to resolve the issue between the two communities
amicably.
History of the place
Chief Ignatius Chikeluba, a Chief in Umuaga-Nachi, who
claimed the farmland belongs to his father, gave historical perspective of the
stream.
"According to my own father, Ogbonnaya Ene Chikeluba,
there was a man called Aniene, a native of Umuaga, he was the first man who saw
the water. He used to be a farmer in the area. He came out one morning to
discover the sudden surge of the water. He ran out to call others that were
farming in the area to witness it. At that point, the water was named Miri
Aniene.
"This happened long time before I was born, it was
never known as having healing powers. We used it to wash cloths, cassava and
other culinary activities. It used to surge after every seven years. After the
war, it came in 1972, 1979, 1986, 1994, 2000, 2005 and now 2013. When it comes,
it is usually there until the next raining season. It is deterred by the rain
or sun shine, it comes at any season of the year. We have never worshipped the
water before.
"Before it came this year, there were Fulani herdsmen
who live in that farm; they always take their cattle there to drink from the
water. So, recently, a group of people came to my house, I recognised one of
them who had lived there before, and I asked curiously whether he wanted to
return to the farm again and he said no. But he said that the water which used
to spring up had sprung up again and that it has healing power – curing all
kinds of ailments. I told him that we don’t know about that. He said they
discovered the healing power of the water the last time it came and they asked
the herdsmen to be monitoring it.
"So, the Fulani herdsmen who have been monitoring it
informed immediately it came out. After a while, another group of herdsmen came
and said the same thing. But I pointed it out to them that their cattle had
damaged my farm and they should do something about it and they moved away from
the area. But surprisingly, after some time, another group of people came this
time, with some Igbos. I was the one who cleared the way to the river. I have
palm tree in that place, banana plantation, cola-nut trees, orange among
others. It is a farm settlement of Umuaga.
"At this junction, I want to state that the Nachi
people have been trying to encroach on the land claiming it belongs to them,
but it belongs to the people of Umuaga. The water is from God. And whoever says
the water has not been there is trying to pull the wool over our faces. My
house is there, and the water has been there. The king who does not know Joseph
will not know Joseph was buried. I was born there, and my father's house is
still there now.
"To, me it is the Fulani herdsmen that are responsible
for this misinformation. Throughout the period I stayed in the farmland, we
have never heard about the story of healing power being ascribed to the water.
It is a concoction of the Fulani herdsmen. I know that the revelation of God
can come through any body but my advice to them is that whatever they are
saying, should be the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
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