Igbo Leader Calls For Mass Burials To Restore Peace, Prosperity

By Chuks Ekeh in Onitsha

Onitsha, Nigeria – Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, spiritual leader of Igbo land, has issued a stark warning, claiming that the accumulation of corpses in morgues is a root cause of the region’s unrest and suffering.

In his Independence Day message, Ezeonwuka, a prominent APGA figure, urged the immediate burial of all deceased individuals, asserting that the presence of unburied bodies is attracting evil spirits and inflicting chaos upon the land.

“A dead body has no place in the land of the living,” he declared. “What is the point in storing dead bodies, if not to pollute the environment and spread unimaginable diseases?” Ezeonwuka likened the practice to the pre-1983 “bucket system” of waste disposal, which he credited the Buhari and Idiagbon administration for abolishing.

He further argued that the presence of unburied corpses has resulted in “disembodied souls” possessing young people, leading to youth violence, drug addiction, and other social ills. Ezeonwuka invoked Igbo proverbs and biblical scriptures to support his claim that unburied corpses anger God and attract evil spirits.

“If we truly desire sustainable peace and development in Igbo land and the country at large, all the dead must be laid six feet down to Mother Earth upon their demise,” he implored.

He called for the closure of mortuaries and the immediate burial of all deceased individuals, regardless of family readiness or financial constraints.

Ezeonwuka’s call for mass burials has sparked controversy, with some criticizing his views as superstitious and impractical.

However, his message resonates with a growing concern about the impact of unburied bodies on the environment and society.

It remains to be seen whether this controversial call will be heeded by the Igbo community and other stakeholders in Nigeria.