Healing River in Enugu a.k.a Orimiri Jordan

Enugu The hitherto sleepy town of Nachi, a community located in the Udi Local Government area of Enugu State has remained relatively unknown until recently when a mysterious stream visited the community.The mysterious water, which allegedly heals all kinds of ailments, was first sighted by a Fulani herdsman. It has now transformed the community from an obscure and quiet village into a beehive of activities.

All roads now lead to Nachi as thousands of people
continue to troop to the community just as they struggle to dip themselves into the stream on getting to the site. Countless testimonies have also continued to trail the mystery water which has already been named Orimiri Jordan (River Jordan) by the natives. The story of this mystery started on the November 11 when community sources reported that 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.” But the mystery is not entirely new to the community. While some elements of doubts and controversies continue to exist on the efficacy of the river to heal sicknesses even among the Indigenes of Nachi community, the mysterious nature of the river has not been in doubt.

The traditional ruler of Nachi community, His Royal Highness, Igwe F.O Onuigbo, Obi II of Nachi, told Daily Sun  at his palace that the mystery river was older than him. Onuigbo, who spoke through his wife because of his ill health, 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 was 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 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.” 

Corroborating the story of the traditional ruler, 80-year-old Chief Festus Ude recalled that after some years, “we noticed that 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 the 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 know whether it is true, we equally heard it like you.”

The ‘Orimiri Jordan’ in Nachi has opened up business opportunities for commercial motorcycle operators, popularly called Okada, photographers as well as petty traders.

At the junction leading to the location of the river, a new and busy motor park, where hawkers, food vendors, transporters and okada riders battle for customers has been created. On the opposite side of the road, containers of various sizes are displayed for those who came empty handed. From that point, a visitor parks his vehicle, mounts on an okada and the journey begins through a very bad and tortuous road where only expert motorbike operators can manoeuvre. Okada riders, after several trips to and from the river, are being accustomed to the bad road. They are thus finding it less troublesome, because according to one of them, they had become used to the terrain since they ply the road not less than 30 times per day.

Mr. Okechukwu, an okada operator, confessed that he abandoned his vulcanizing job to benefit from the new business. The okada operators charge between N500 to N1000 per passenger. Said he: “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 not less than N10, 000 every day. One of my friends called my attention to it, and I will forever be grateful to him.” On getting to the river, snack hawkers and photographers make the best out of the crowded environment. While the visitors struggle to dip themselves or swim in the river, the photographers take vantage positions to take shots and get the pictures ready immediately at the cost of N200 depending on the number of exposures. One of the photographers disclosed that business is really booming at the site as 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.” Although no instant miracle was recorded or observed during this visit which lasted about one hour, many people told the reporter that a number of visitors had testified to all forms of miracles after visiting the place. People with all forms of ailments are being assisted by their relatives and friends to dip themselves into the river.

A trader at the entrance told this reporter: “My house help was suffering from enlarged scrotum, We were trying to raise money to go to the 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 said that he came after neighbours told him about the healing power of the water. “I heard about people who had difficulties in walking but they got healed after visiting this place. I also heard of people who regained their sight after visiting this place. I am just coming out of the river and I believe that I am free from any form of sickness and challenges”.

Meanwhile, anxious Nigerians seeking miraculous solutions to their problems have continued to visit the new “River Jordan” for a healing bath in the mystery waters.