This is no tales my moonlight. It’s a true story, but one that has continued to confound all those that have heard about it or are aware of it. The strange story actually unfolded in Anambra State. Amichi, in Nnewi South Local Government Area, to be precise. The major actor is a dreaded native doctor who goes by the name of Isikotebu Ogbakasiaya. Well known to be into masquerade and also as the head of the Black Scorpion cult, the man died months back from complications arising from high blood pressure and stroke. “He suffered stroke twice. As a matter of fact, his BP shot up so much, which was what caused the second stroke that eventually claimed his life”, recalled one follower of the shocking story.
In his 60s, Isikotebu, before death beckoned, fought the dreaded musician, Pericome Okoye to a standstill. There were also many other battles that he fought, and emerged victorious. His corpse was moved from one morgue to another due to the inconveniences he allegedly subjected the other corpses to. From Orsumenyi to Nnewi, the story was the same – as his people kept moving his corpse whenever the owners of the morgues where he was kept wouldn’t let them be. “He was pushing all the other corpses down; causing so much commotion at night and doing different kinds of strange things. The mortuary owners kept begging his people to come and remove him. Even now that he’s finally been buried, they said his spirit emerged from only God-knows-where 3 days later, charging at all those around. Of course, many took to their heels upon sighting him. On another day, they claimed he came and drank all the beer in the house and scattered the bottles everywhere. Too many strange things and stories”.
We sought the view of an Igbo elder on this, and he confirmed that indeed such things happen. But rarely. “Those who die and after that their spirits go about disturbing people are usually very wicked people while alive. Isikotebu will not be the first and also not the last. He was dreaded while alive, so all the stories trailing him are not strange to us”. The elder who doesn’t want his name in print equally told us that to arrest Isikotebu’s spirit from roaring up and down and doing more damage, his people will have to get another powerful native doctor to perform some rituals and after that his corpse will be chained on the grave. “That is why when you see some graves, you will notice that there are chains on them. It’s due to cases like this, and once that is done, the spirit of the person is subdued. Which is what Isikotebu’s family member will most likely do”. None of the man’s family members wanted to comment. They also wouldn’t tell YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine anything as regards whether or not his corpse will be chained eventually like the elder suggested.
NB: First published November 2013