The news which made the rounds at the weekend of a huge python which was killed in Anambra state has sparked controversy on the social media as an indigene of the state said each python represents one human life.
A Facebook user identified as Ogbujianyim ChiukwuEmeka Nwokedi, said the killing of a python in the state could diabolically lead to the demise of a human being.

This was just as a group of men from the Enugu Ukwu part of the state (boundary point with Ebonyi state) butchered a python during the weekend and prepared it for cnsumption.


Nwokedi, on his Facebook page shared a story of how the killing of pythons is affecting their own lives.

He wrote: “Traditional Nwokedi said and warned: If Anambra people, especially those calling themselves Christians will not stop Enugwu people from killing Anambra Python, too much people will die in Anambra and Anambra people will be wondering who is killing us.

“Abakaliki people are killing us!

“One Python is one person’s life; the more they kill them, the more you bury your loved ones.

Another indigene of the state, Tony Oraeki, wrote:

“I’m an indigene of Nri and in respective towns, if a python enters the house of anybody; climbs on top of his bed, the owner of the house will simply collect the creature and drop it somewhere outside the compound without harming it.

“If a stranger deliberately kills a python in Okija, the natives according to Ujummadu would advise such a person to give a befitting burial to the creature, and if the person refuses, he or she stands the risk of dying mysteriously within one year.”

Checks by DAILY POST suggest that the people of the state have a tradition that forbids the killing of snake.

It is believed that by killing a snake, one desecrates the land, as snake killing in the area is a taboo and no amount of civilization can change that part of their culture – ‘worshiping of python.’