Finally, the long-awaited laying to rest of Late Chief Priest of EKWO shrine in Amaokwe Aminyi Uhu Ogoduasa Autonomous community took place today 11th January 2019 after many months of being in the mortuary.
Late Chief Priest Agwo Ikoro whose death occurred on the 2nd January, 2016 was due for burial within 3 months of his death, but was made impossible due to the disappearance of the heir apparent to the EKWO shrine.
AFN gathered that the heir apparent, One Mr Emenike Uche who also double as a cousin to the late chief priest was supposed to assume the position of the next chief priest of EKWO shrine, but due to his Christian believes he refused and rejected the position.
Based on the information we gathered from anonymous sources, his refusal caused numerous havocs in the community as they claimed. Our source linked death of many illustrious sons and daughters of the community to the refusal of Emenike Uche taking over Chief Priest duties. He also claimed that the community experienced poor harvest from farm produce, deaths of domestic animals and other unfortunate incidents.
AFN research revealed that EKWO shrine have been in existence for centuries and now Late chief priest have been buried without a successor for the first time since the existence of the shrine and the outcome yet unknown. The elders of the community claimed that the chief priest must be laid to rest to avert looming dangers in the community even though it is the sole duty of the successor to prepare burial rituals of the priest.
Emenike Uche who we gathered that his whereabouts is unknown to the community, may have disappeared with his family due to the pressure from the elders and youths.
