Mefor Dismisses Allegations on Crackdown on Fake Pastors, Native Doctors as Attack on Religion, Tradition

By Praise Chinecherem

Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor described security as the foundation of the “Solution Agenda” of Prof Chukwuma Soludo-led administration.

Mefor stated this during a working visit to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Security, Hon. Ken Emeakayi, at his office in Awka.

The visit centered on strengthening collaboration between the Ministry of Information and the state’s security architecture amid ongoing efforts to rid the of crime and criminality.

The Commissioner explained that the recent crackdown on fake pastors and criminal native doctors was not an attack on religion or tradition but a sanitation exercise backed by law.

“The war against fake and evil native doctors is the same thing as that of fake pastors, all under the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025.

“That law is obvious. The church won’t shield you, because it confers no immunity on anyone involved in criminality in the name of religion,” he said.

Mefor commended the strings of successes recorded so far by Emeakayi and his team despite what he described as Anambra’s peculiar environment.

“I am here to encourage you. Honestly, I sometimes sit back and wonder how you manage it. We are in a very peculiar environment where extreme negative behaviours are rife.

“Anambra is not like any other state in Nigeria. Here you have a diverse population. An Awka man is not like an Nnewi man. Things that would not happen in other states happen here.

“Yet, despite all the challenges you face, the remarkable success you and your team have achieved is commendable. Yes, there is room for improvement.

“But if you look at where we are coming from and how complaints are now rare, you will agree that we are doing well,” he added.

The Commissioner further pledged hands-on media support and proposed quarterly joint press briefings to improve public communication around their operations.

“I want to restate our pledge to support you. The Ministry of Information is willing to support and join you in any major operation. I would like to go with you personally—I don’t want to just send my staff.

“I’m even contemplating a quarterly joint press conference—once every three months, we review the last quarter. The media will receive answers to their questions,” he said.

While observing that traditional rulers and town unions seem not to be doing their jobs, Mefor suggested that parts of the Homeland Security Law 2025 explaining their roles be excised and simplified for those who might not have time to read the whole document so they could perform better.

Responding, Emeakayi expressed gratitude for the visit and the ministry’s support, describing it as morale-boosting for his team, even as he thanked the Governor for opportunity to serve and respond to their demands.

“The role of my office is to assist the police: receive complaints, make arrests, conduct preliminary investigations and hand over suspects with prima facie evidence for further investigation and prosecution,” he added.