Church Leaders Blamed for Resurgence of Idol Worship and Crime in Igbo Land

In recent years, idol worship and the rise of self-proclaimed native doctors, some flaunting questionable wealth, have gained prominence in Igbo land. These figures, often celebrated as socialites mingling with elites, have been linked to criminal activities such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and money rituals, contributing to the severe insecurity plaguing South-East Nigeria. While Anambra and Enugu state governments have taken steps to curb these practices, Bishop Rt. Rev. Gideon Ilechukwu, a medical doctor and Anglican Missionary Congregations (AMC) Bishop in the UK and Europe, has pointed to church leaders as a root cause. Speaking at the 33rd Synod of the Diocese on the Niger at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Ojoto, Anambra, on June 15, 2025, Ilechukwu argued that the failure of Christians, especially clergy, to live out their faith has driven the resurgence of paganism. He stated that if Christians truly reflected Christ’s teachings, the rush to idol worship would not occur.

Methodist Bishop of Umuahia, Archbishop Raphael Opoko, echoed Ilechukwu’s sentiments, criticizing pastors for honoring wealthy members with questionable sources of income through awards and knighthoods, projecting the church as endorsing materialism. He urged clergy to speak against evil rather than remaining silent, which emboldens unwholesome practices. Similarly, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, co-chair of Interfaith Peace and Justice Forum, condemned the church for conferring awards on individuals of dubious character, urging a halt to such practices. In contrast, Rev. Fr. Jeremiah Okwadike, a Holy Ghost Priest in Ebonyi, attributed the revival of idol worship to bad governance and economic hardship, which push impatient youths toward rituals for quick wealth. He noted that modern idol worship, unlike ancestral practices, involves heinous crimes like human sacrifice, with some church leaders allegedly collaborating with native doctors for charms to attract followers.

Pastor Innocent Okwuonu of True God Evangelical Ministry in Anambra observed that Christians engaging in idol worship fuel the native doctor trade, bringing curses upon their families. He highlighted the recovery of traditional worship items during Christian family deliverances, noting some revert to paganism post-deliverance due to beliefs in generational curses. Evangelist Okechukwu Ukaegbu, National Secretary of the Church of God Seventh Day, Nigeria, warned that the Igbo obsession with wealth, regardless of its source, drives youths to idol worship and ritualism, urging society to stop celebrating unexplained riches. Pastor Joshua Okorie of True Rhema Evangelical Church in Imo criticized Christians for prioritizing miracles and prophecies over living their faith, while dismissing native doctors as swindlers posing as solution providers. The collective critique underscores a call for the church to lead by example and for society to reject the glorification of ill-gotten wealth to address the intertwined issues of idol worship, crime, and insecurity in Igbo land. Posts on X, such as from @DailyPostNGR, reflect public concern over ritualism’s link to South-East violence, amplifying the urgency of these warnings.