Prophet Eddie Nawgu remains one of the most controversial religious figures to emerge from Anambra State in the late 20th century. For students of Nigerian social history—particularly the era of the Bakassi Boys—his name is often recalled alongside tales of mysticism, fear, and confrontation with vigilante justice.
Born Edwin Okeke, Eddie Nawgu was a Nigerian sorcerer, self-proclaimed prophet, and religious figure who rose to prominence in the mid-1990s among the Igbo people. He derived the name “Nawgu” from his hometown, Nawgu community in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State.
At the age of 29, Eddie Okeke claimed he had been divinely touched by the Biblical God and endowed with supernatural abilities to see and perceive realities beyond the reach of ordinary human senses. This claim formed the foundation of his spiritual influence and growing following.
Shortly after declaring his calling, he established a church-like centre known as the Anioma Healing Centre. According to Eddie Nawgu, the purpose of the centre was to heal the sick, deliver people from spiritual afflictions, and restore hope to the community. In its early days, many followers reportedly testified to healings and spiritual experiences, which further strengthened his reputation.
However, as his influence expanded, so did controversy. Within a few years, rumours and allegations of illicit activities began to circulate. Some community members and observers alleged that the Anioma Healing Centre had become a place where spiritual powers were invoked not only for healing, but also for questionable purposes.
One frequently cited incident from around 1990 involved a service in which worshippers were instructed to “bless” two men whom Eddie Nawgu had earlier prayed for, allegedly for financial breakthrough. It was later widely rumoured that the men had successfully trafficked hard drugs to Europe without interception. While such claims were never tested in a formal court of law, they significantly damaged his public image and intensified suspicion around his ministry.
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Eddie Nawgu’s notoriety had grown to the point that his activities drew the attention of the Bakassi Boys, the feared vigilante group that operated across southeastern Nigeria at the time. The ensuing clash between Eddie Nawgu and the Bakassi Boys became part of local folklore, symbolising the broader conflict between mystical power, alternative religious authority, and extrajudicial justice in that turbulent period of Anambra State’s history.
Today, Prophet Eddie Nawgu is remembered not merely as a religious figure, but as a symbol of a complex era—one marked by spiritual experimentation, fear of the supernatural, and the rise of vigilante justice in southeastern Nigeria.
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