The news fly all around and the hitherto
serene community becomes busy playing
host to people from far and near seeking
miracle healing to their ailments in a
stream that sprang up suddenly.
The physically challenged, the aged,
young, men and women including people
with different kinds of sicknesses throng
the pool in droves, dip themselves naked
in the 3-4feet deep stagnated water,
wash the ailing parts of their bodies
believing they are healed.
Although the testimonies were not forth
coming, the lame, blind still assisted with
mixed feelings, believed that they will be
healed.
‘Pool of Bethesda’
The mysterious pool, called Orimiri
located in a forest about 3km from the
Nachi bus-stop along Onitsha/Enugu old
road, allegedly heals all kinds of ailments
after it was discovered by a Fulani
herdsman recently.
Since the discovery, the community has
become a pilgrimage center with no fewer
than 3000 people thronging the place
daily. From morning till 6pm daily, okada
ply through that narrow and sandy path
carrying passengers and their loads of
jerry cans to the stream.
When Saturday Vanguard visited the
stream, scores of people especially
women were seen naked dipping their
bodies in the already contaminated
stream in the quest for healing. As those
with tumor, sores and injuries wash their
bodies without any reservation, the
physically challenged were being assisted
by their relatives for thorough bath.
Others were busy scooping up water from
different holes dug around the bank into
their plastic containers of various sizes.
The people’s craze for healing was also
seen as they collect sands from the
stream into cellophane bags to their
homes believing even the sands under
the water was as effective as the stream
itself. The trees in the surroundings were
also not spared as people chop trees into
various sizes with a claim that it cures all
kinds of sicknesses.
But none of these miracle seekers at the
stream as at the time of visit could give a
clear testimony of the healing he or she
had received. Most of them who spoke
with us opined that they believe it will
work.
A middle aged woman, who refused to
give her real names who never suspected
she was talking to the press, said: “I just
came here for to exercise my faith. I
have not seen any one though, but I
believe it. I just had a bath in the water
and I believe it. I believe God that I will
be okay.”
But Donatus Ike, who claims he has been
coming to the stream on a daily basis
since the news of the healing power
broke said: “I always come here every
day to work; I guide people in doing
certain things here. The water has
healing power. A lot of people came
from far and near. Not too long ago, Rev.
Mbaka came here, he prayed for people.
The lame will work, the blind will see.
You can see a crutch over there; it was
dropped by somebody who couldn’t
work.”
Amobi Chukwu in his own view said: “I
think it is all about faith. What you call
medicine is medicine for you. I also
believe the water has healing power. The
water is dirty and it was because a lot of
people come here and bath inside the
water and you know this is not a flowing
river. That is why people dig the river
bank to get better water to drink. It is
drinkable.”
But the controversies surrounding the
healing power of the stream, began to
unfold as Rev. Father Chikezie Cypril
a.k.a Okanga Jesus, the Parish Priest, St.
Michael Catholic Church, Oji, Enugu
described those who seek healing from
the stream are spiritual puppets. Cypril
who is also the Chaplain of the Physically
Challenged in the area said, said he has
not heard from any of the physically
challenged in his domain that one person
had been healed from the water. “I
don’t believe it.
I am the chaplain of the physically
challenged and none of them has come to
me to give that testimony of healing; and
this is happening in their area. I mean
not even one person has come to confirm
it. I know that most of them have gone
there and nothing is happening. So, you
see, people tend to confuse you with
certain things. As I am speaking to you,
no member of this community has shared
a testimony about the water.”
Seeking healing at the pool
In the same vein, Chief Ignatius Ene
Chikeluba who claimed he was born in
the farmland gave an insight into the
beginning of the whole parody. He stated
that it was the Fulani herdsmen who
concocted and spread the story of healing
power without any clear evidence.
“Throughout the period I stayed in the
farmland, we have never heard about the
healing power being ascribed to the
water. It is a concoction of the Fulani
herdsmen. I know that revelation from
God can come through any body but my
advice to them is that whatever they are
saying should be the whole truth and
nothing but the truth,” Chikeluba stated.
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The traditional ruler of Nachi community,
His Royal Highness, Igwe F. O. Onuigbo,
Obi II of Nachi, in his own submission said
the water has been there for a very long
time, adding that the healing power
ascribed to it was only a recent
phenomenon which he did not confirm.
“River Nachi is natural water which has
been there for a very long time which
people use for their cooking, drinking and
washing. The healing power is something
new and I have not visited the place. But
the water has been there before. People
said it is healing; I can’t stop anybody
from going there to seek cure and
healing. I have no right to do that.”
On the pattern surge, Igwe Onuigbo said
he didn’t know about the coming and
occasional surge of the water. “I do no
know of that”
He confirmed that the land where the
water is situated has been in dispute
between Ameke and Umuaga for a very
long time, adding that efforts are on-
going to resolve the issue between the
two communities amicably.
History of the water
Chief Ignatius Chikeluba, a Chief in
Umuaga-Nachi, who claimed the farm
land belongs to his father, gave historical
perspective of the stream. “According to
my own father, Ogbonnaya Ene Chikeluba,
there was a man called Aniene, a native
of Umuaga, he was the first man who saw
the water. He used to be a farmer in the
area. He came out one morning to
discover the sudden surge of the water.
He ran out to call others that were
farming in the area to witness it. At that
point, the water was named Miri Aniene.
This happened long time before I was
born, it was never known as having
healing powers. We used it to wash
cloths, cassava and other culinary
activities. It used to surge after every
seven years. After the war, it came in
1972, 1979, 1986, 1994, 2000, 2005 and
now 2013. When it comes, it is usually
there until the next raining season. It is
deterred by the rain or sun shine, it
comes at any season of the year. We
have never worshipped the water
before.”
“Before it came this year, there were
Fulani herdsmen who live in that farm;
they always take their cattle there to
drink from the water. So, recently, a
group of people came to my house, I
recognised one of them who had lived
there before, and I asked curiously
whether he wanted to return to the farm
again and he said no. But he said that the
water which used to spring up had sprung
up again and that it has healing power –
curing all kinds of ailments. I told him
that we don’t know about that. He said
they discovered the healing power of the
water the last time it came and they
asked the herdsmen to be monitoring it.
So, the Fulani herdsmen who have been
monitoring it informed immediately it
came out. After a while, another group of
herdsmen came and said the same thing.
But I pointed it out to them that their
cattle had damaged my farm and they
should do something about it and they
moved away from the area. But
surprisingly, after some time, another
group of people came this time, with
some Igbos. I was the one who cleared
the way to the river. I have palm tree in
that place, banana plantation, cola-nut
trees, orange among others. It is a farm
settlement of Umuaga. At this junction, I
want to state that the Nachi people have
been trying to encroach on the land
claiming it belongs to them, but it
belongs to the people of Umuaga. The
water is from God. And whoever says the
water has not been there is trying to pull
the wool over our faces. My house is
there, and the water has been there. The
king who does not know Joseph will not
know Joseph was buried. I was born
there and my father’s house is still there
now. To, me it is the Fulani herdsmen
that are responsible for this
misinformation. Throughout the period I
stayed in the farmland, we have never
heard about the story of healing power
being ascribed to the water. It is a
concoction of the Fulani herdsmen. I
know that the revelation of God can come
through any body but my advice to them
is that whatever they are saying, should
be the whole truth and nothing but the
truth.”
I don’t believe it — Rev Fr Chikezie Cypril
a.k.a Okanga Jesus
Rev Father Chikezie Cypril a.k.a Okanga
Jesus is the Parish Priest, St. Michael
Catholic Church, Oji, Enugu and also the
Chaplain of the Care for the Physically
Challenged in the area. He spoke to
Saturday Vanguard on the healing power
of Pool of Bethesda.
The mystery river that is said to be
healing is happening in your parish, what
can you say about it?
I am privileged that this is taking place in
my parish, but unfortunately, I have not
gone there to see what is happening
there, but I have seen a lot of people
going there for healing. For the fact that I
have not been there does not mean I
wouldn’t know whether what is going on
there is good or bad. My opinion is that it
is better to seek God than seeking the
blessing of God. This is because if you
seek God, the blessing of God will come
your way. If you seek the face of God, you
will get the hand of God. Unfortunately
people think that God is not alive to their
problem. Most people who go there are
those who have little or no time for the
word of God and they spend a lot of time
there waiting for their turn. If only they
can spend their time for God, healing will
come their way. That is why I will not find
the time to go there because there is
nothing better than seeking God.
But we heard that Rev. Mbaka was there
and he prayed at the river?
Maybe he went there to know what is
happening, but also remember that
Mbaka is not God. It does not matter
whether the Bishop or the Pope was
there or not, what matters is that people
should seek God. What about those who
don’t have the opportunity to go there,
do you mean they will not be healed? I
see it as a kind of madness when people
go there and take bath while they also
take the same water and drink.
But one funny thing about it is that, I
don’t believe it. I am the chaplain of the
physically challenged and none of them
has come to me that they are healed and
this is happening in their area. I mean
not even one person has come to confirm
it. I know that most of them have gone
there and nothing is happening. So, you
see, people tend to confuse you with
certain things. As I am speaking to you,
no member of this my community has
come to me to share a testimony about
the water. I know if it is real as people
tend to portray it, one or two persons in
the community must have been noticed
and if we see it, we will be the promoter.
You see, one has to be very sensible
about it; a lot of people are making
money on this situation. For example, if
you tell the Okada riders who are making
money from the situation that it is not
real, they will say you don’t know what
you are talking about. But let us trust
God, power belongs to God. It is when
we commune with God that we see the
power of God in our lives. I see those
who go there as spiritual puppets.