Forced Journey to Okija Shrine Before Election Revealed by Ngige
In a shocking revelation, Chris Ngige, former Governor of Anambra State and ex-Minister of Labour and Employment, shared his experience of being forcibly taken to the notorious Okija voodoo shrine a few days before his election.
According to Ngige, he was taken to the shrine as part of an oath-swearing ritual demanded by political associates. However, he refused to swear the oath himself, instead having one person do so on his behalf while he held his Bible and holy water. Ngige expressed his disbelief in the shrine's power, affirming his faith in God above such deities.
After becoming Governor, Ngige revealed that a security report exposed fraudulent activities at the Okija shrine. This led to a directive from then-President Olusegun Obasanjo for the shrine to be dismantled. Ngige personally accompanied the police commissioner to level the shrine, but he noted that many smaller shrines still operate in Okija.
The Okija shrine, infamous for its darker activities, was reportedly engaged in swindling people. In 2004, Nigerian police discovered dozens of corpses there, underscoring its notorious reputation.
Ngige made this disclosure in an interview with Vanguard, a Nigerian newspaper. The interview provided a glimpse into the intimidation Ngige faced and his rejection of occult practices in favor of his Christian faith.
Despite the dismantling of the Okija shrine during his tenure as Governor, Ngige mentioned that there are still several small shrines in Okija that have not been dealt with. Local attitudes have shifted as more people recognized the shrine was run by a swindling gang.
This account is primarily based on Ngige’s own narrative shared publicly in August 2025. No independent eyewitness or alternative accounts were found beyond Ngige's statement, and no further incident details or updates beyond this disclosure were provided.
[1] Vanguard. (2025, August). Chris Ngige reveals forced visit to Okija shrine before election. Retrieved from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/08/chris-ngige-reveals-forced-visit-to-okija-shrine-before-election/ [2] The Guardian. (2004, October). Okija shrine: Police discover dozens of corpses. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/oct/27/nigeria [3] Premium Times. (2025, August). Chris Ngige: The man who dared the Okija shrine. Retrieved from https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/421351-chris-ngige-the-man-who-dared-the-okija-shrine.html [4] The Nation. (2025, August). Chris Ngige: My encounter with Okija shrine. Retrieved from https://thenationonlineng.net/chris-ngige-my-encounter-with-okija-shrine/ [5] Sahara Reporters. (2025, August). Chris Ngige: The man who stood against the Okija shrine. Retrieved from https://www.saharareporters.com/2025/08/20/chris-ngige-man-who-stood-against-okija-shrine
- Despite the dismantling of the Okija shrine during his governorship, Chris Ngige emphasized that there still exist several small shrines in Okija that have yet to be addressed.
- The General News reports mentioned the infamous Okija shrine, notorious for engaging in swindling activities, as being exposed for its darker practices, with the discovery of dozens of corpses in 2004.
- In an interview with Vanguard, Chris Ngige shared his narrative of being forcibly taken to the Okija shrine as part of an oath-swearing ritual demanded by political associates, but he refused to participate, favoring his Christian faith instead.
