There is a saying that people’s believe protect them.
For the people of Ojoto in Idemili North Council Area, Idoto is a popular marine goddess that is resident in a river in the community and all the communities in Idemili, Anambra State.
Correspondent, Chibuzor Obidike traced history of Idoto and reports that History has it that Ojoto Community, a popular town in Idemili South Local Government Area, was merged with a village called Ojo and a kindred known as Oto to be formally called Ojoto as they were seen as brothers, an achievement made possible by the Idoto goddess as she connects the two brothers and fought for them in the olden days.
Idoto, marine goddess is one out of the two shrines in Ojoto, the second one being Ukpaka Oto alongside its Ajana, which is also a female marine goddess.
According to a community stakeholder, Chief Luke Ezeoke, the Idoto deity is a goddess of war as he recounted how their neighbouring communities were defeated with the help of the marine goddess, which was later nicknamed “Okemuo Napu Na aro”.
He noted that the deity is regarded as the strongest around the South East Nigeria and specializes in solving most difficult puzzles in the community, and can disarm other gods and opponents during wars.
Contributing, Mr Christopher Ikejiofor believes that “Ide” which signifies water, sums up the concept of Idemili and explained that Idoto represents purity and as such, the deity accepts natural foods like yam, kola nuts and hot drinks which are used in praying to the goddess through her Chief priest, adding that they believed that after the prayers and libations, good things come forth.
The Chief Priest of Idoto Shrine, Mr Emekwue Ojemba was of the opinion that individually, one’s spirit tries on daily basis to connect with the creator and as such every onye Igbo must focus on the voice of their spirit, emphasizing that everyone has his calling and destiny in life, stressing that being a traditionalist does not make one a bad person.
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