Operatives of the Anambra State security outfit, Agunechemba, have arrested and detained popular native doctor Chidozie Nwangwu, widely known as Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki.
The flamboyant spiritualist, known for his ostentatious lifestyle on social media, has been notably silent since the launch of Agunechemba.
His online fame stemmed from his controversial promotion of Oke Ite—a money ritual he claimed could bestow limitless wealth, attracting a large following, particularly among young people.
The news of his arrest was first posted on the official Anambra State X handle (formerly Twitter) on Saturday. The post read: “Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki n’Oba denies Oke Ite and has been detained for further investigation by the security agency.
According to sources, security operatives picked him up at his base in Oba, Idemili South LGA, on Saturday evening and swiftly took him to the office of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, for interrogation.
A circulating video captures the moment the deputy governor questioned him. During the session, Akwa Okuko denied involvement in Oke Ite, stating:
“I have long stopped doing ‘Oke Ite’. That thing is not a charm. We just gave it the name ‘Oke Ite’ because we put it in a pot. In Igbo language, ‘Oke Ite’ means big pot.”
In the same video, Ibezim referenced sections of the newly passed Anambra Homeland Security Law, emphasising the need for evidence to substantiate Akwa Okuko’s claims. Addressing the security operatives present, he declared: “Guys, you have heard him. We need to take him to where he does these things. We will investigate him, and of course, we need to know where he does these things. If he cannot prove it, he will have to go in for it.”
This arrest comes nearly a year after Akwa Okuko was kidnapped in July 2023.
Reports indicated that he secured his release after spending days in captivity and allegedly paying a ransom.
(PUNCH)