A river with healing
powers mysteriously appeared in Nachi, a community in Udi Local Government Area
of Enugu State.
Already named ‘Orimiri Jordan’ (River
Jordan) it has become a Pilgrimage Centre, playing host to people from all
parts of Nigeria.
Countless testimonies abound as Nigerians
struggle to dip themselves into the River.
According to reports, it all started on the 11th
day of November 2013 when a Fulani herdsman ran to the community and announced
how water covered the place just few minutes after he passed.
“He told us that he passed that place with his
herd of cattle and soon after, heard a strange noise; when he turned back, he
discovered that a big stream has appeared at the same place he just passed with
his cattle. At that point, he ran to Garki and informed his relatives, who also
came there and discovered that the water had healing power. From that point,
the news spread to the community”, a source disclosed.
Speaking on the origin of the river, the
traditional ruler of Nachi community, His Royal Highness, Igwe F.O Onuigbo, Obi
II of Nachi, said that at his palace that the mystery River was older than him.
He said “I used to pass through that area to
attend school at Inyi-Achi in Oji River, in the early 40s. In those days,
there is no water there, the only thing you see there is white sand. But once
you get there and you are thirsty, all you need to do is to scratch the surface
of the land and ask if for water, water will full your hand immediately if you
are an upright person, but if you are evil, no water will come out. That has
been the situation”.
Another octogenarian, Chief Festus Ude said
“later, we noticed that after some years, the water will form a stream there
and would disappear in few weeks. If such happens, we will be fetching water
there. However, women who are menstruating and evil people don’t go there. We
never heard about healing power of the River until this recent appearance of
the River.
“The last time it appeared was in 1992, and at
that time, it just formed a small stream, which later disappeared. It has never
been as large as this. This is all I know, we have never known about its
healing power, this is the first time we are hearing about healing, I don’t
whether it is true, we equally heard it like you”.
Commercial motorcycle operators, popularly called
“Okada”, photographers and petty traders, are already making business out of
it.
Right at the junction leading to the location of
the “Jordan River”, the visitor is presented with a scene of a busy motor park,
where hawkers, food vendors, transporters and okada riders battle for
customers.
On the other side of the road, cans of various
sizes are displayed for those who came empty handed. From that point, you park
your vehicle, mount on Okada and the journey begins.
According to motorcyclist, “I have a vulcanizing
shop at the Nachi Market, but when this new business came, I had to close the
shop temporarily so that I can also make money here. I hardly make N1000 a day
there in my shop, but since I joined this Okada transport to the Enugu Jordan
River, I make no less than N10, 000 every day. One of my friends called my
attention to it, and I will forever be grateful to him”.
The okada operators charge their passengers fares
ranging from N500 to N1000 depending on their bargaining power.
On getting to the River, another business scene
welcomes you. Here, apart from those hawking snacks, photographers are not left
out. This presents the place as not just a miracle centre, but a tourist
centre. While some of the visitors dip themselves or swim in the River, the
photographers take shots, get the pictures ready immediately at the cost of
N200 depending on the number of exposures.
One of the photographers said that they make
between N20, 000 to N40, 000 every day.
“You can see that some people come for fun, not
just in search of miracle but to see the mysterious River. So when such people
come, they request for shots and it has really provided us with good business
here.
Sources disclosed that many visitors had
testified to all forms of miracles after visiting the place.
People of all ages, with all forms of ailments
are being assisted by their relatives and friends to dip themselves into the
River.
A can seller at the entrance said “my house help
was suffering from enlarged scrotum; we were trying to raise money to go to
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital before a friend told me about this place.
We brought the boy here and by the time we went home, he was fully healed, that
was how I started selling empty cans here”.
Another visitor, a civil servant, who identified
himself as James told our correspondent that he came after neighbours told him
about the healing power of the water.
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