By Ado Oyeyemi
The Uburu Traditional Rulers Council in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has announced a community-wide spiritual cleansing exercise and imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew following the controversial death of Mary Habila at the residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi.
The directive was contained in a public notice dated July 21, 2026, and signed by the council’s Chief Media Officer and President General of Eweze Uburu Autonomous Community, Chief Nicholas Odi, on behalf of the traditional ruler, Eze Lazarus N. Umahi.
According to the notice, Thursday, July 23, has been set aside for the traditional Isu Arua cleansing rite, with all arrangements for the exercise already concluded.
The council said a curfew would be enforced across the community from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. to ensure the successful conduct of the spiritual exercise.
It directed that all markets, shops, businesses, commercial activities, social gatherings, parties, ceremonies and other public events within Uburu remain suspended throughout the period of the curfew.
Residents, indigenes, visitors and members of the public were urged to comply fully with the directive, which the council described as a demonstration of respect for the community’s age-long tradition and a measure aimed at promoting spiritual cleansing, peace and renewal.
The development comes weeks after Habila died at Umahi’s residence in Uburu, an incident that has generated widespread public interest and is currently under police investigation.
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The Minister of Works had acknowledged that Habila died at his residence, stating that she was a physiotherapist seconded from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences to the Federal Ministry of Works.
