Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has directed all native doctors and traditional medicine dealers in the state to register with their business with the government and police within seven days, or risk fine.
Umahi who gave the directive on Wednesday after the weekly state Security Council meeting in Abakaliki, warned that defaulters would be made to pay a fine of N1million.
While charging council chairmen and relevant security outfits to enforce the order, the governor also directed that wake keeping and other social activities in Ebonyi must end by 6:00 pm.
“There would be an executive order to this effect, and anyone caught doing otherwise would be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
“Anyone who defies this directive would pay a fine of N1 million as criminal activities are perpetrated through these wake-keeps (sic) which last through the night.
“The perpetrators post such killings and destruction on the social media, claiming that they are members of the Indigenous People of Biafra or the Eastern Security Network.
“I am not standing for either (of the) groups, but they continue to deny that they are not into violence. I direct security agencies to crack down on all criminal activities in the state and prosecute all culprits,” he stated.
The governor further lamented the wild circulation of fake news in the state and warned that the government would no longer tolerate such.
“Someone posted on Wednesday that herders attacked a school in Abakaliki, and schools began to close and people running in panic.
“Anyone who circulates fake news, whether from the opposition or in agreement with me, would be arrested and prosecuted,” he warned.