Uburu Traditional Council Declares Spiritual Cleansing, Imposes Curfew Weeks After Mary Habila’s Death at Umahi’s Residence

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, weeks after 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 Chief Nicholas Odi, Chief Media Officer of the Uburu Traditional Rulers Council and President General of Eweze Uburu Autonomous Community, on behalf of the council led by HRH Eze Lazarus N. Umahi.

According to the notice, Thursday, July 23, 2026, has been set aside for the traditional “Isu Arua” spiritual cleansing ritual of Ndi Uburu. The council said all arrangements for the ceremony have been completed.

To ensure the exercise is conducted without disruption, a community-wide curfew will be enforced from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. During the period, all business activities, markets, shops, commercial operations, social events, ceremonies and other public gatherings across the community will remain suspended.

The traditional council urged residents, indigenes, visitors and members of the public to fully comply with the directive, describing the exercise as a sacred cultural observance aimed at promoting spiritual cleansing, peace and renewal within the community.

The announcement comes amid lingering public interest in the death of Mary Habila, whose passing at Senator David Umahi’s residence in Uburu sparked widespread attention and ongoing investigations by the police.

Umahi has acknowledged that Habila died at his residence, explaining that she was a physiotherapist seconded from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) to the Federal Ministry of Works. Authorities have yet to conclude investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death.