Since a Fulani herdsman discovered a mystery river, which suddenly
emerged and took over a large expanse of land in a forest at Nnachi, in
Udi LGA of Enugu State, the community has not had rest.
People have continued to troop to have a spiritual bath and be made
whole. However, it seems the party is coming to an end, so to say, as the
river is drying up.
Checks revealed that the river is disappearing, with only a small muddy
portion remaining.
For the people of Nnachi, the drying up of the river is not a surprise. They
said that the mystery river usually sprang up every seven years and lasts
for seven days before disappearing. They, however, confessed that the
last time the river emerged was about 30 years ago before appearing last
November and remaining in place for more than three months.
The water, which has been nicknamed ‘River of Bethsaida,’ is located
about a kilometre into the bush, off the old Awka – Enugu Expressway.
Indeed, since the water appeared in the first week of November 2013, the
area has turned to a Mecca of
sorts, just as jerry can sellers, food vendors, commercial motorcyclists
and photographers have thronged the community for business.
A commercial motorcyclist, who took this reporter to “Bethsaida,”
confessed that people, who started the business as soon as the healing
river appeared “made so much money,” as, according to him, “people
come here in thousands on a daily basis; the peak periods are weekends,
especially Sunday; so business has been good.”
Continuing, he also stated; “People have come from very far places to be
part of what is happening here. Personally, I have carried some Chinese
on this bike; they were about four and they refused to be paired on one
motorcycle.”
The commercial motorcyclist, who later identified himself as Ugochukwu
Nweke, from Effium, in Ebonyi State, narrated how he carried a cripple to
“Bethsaida” and he walked home, abandoning his crutches.
A photographer, who operates with the name, Honesty for God’s Photos,
and who was selling pictures, calendar, and VCD plates of events at the
river, narrated his experiences, revealing how the river is drying up.
The young man, who hails from Mgbo, in the Ohaukwu Local Government
Area of Ebonyi State said: “I came down here in November last year
because of this water and I have remained here since then. When I came
here, the water covered everywhere; all these trees you are seeing now
were all submerged by the water and I have witnessed several miracles
and healings since I arrived. Truly, God has visited His people through
this water.”
“I have used my camera to record series of healings; the blind have
regained their sight here. This calendar contains pictures of those healed
through this water. The deaf and the dumb have been healed; cripples
threw away their crutches here and walked. People have come here and
cried to God for solution to various problems and as an eyewitness, I can
confirm that God has blessed a lot of people here.
“But those who soiled their hands in one way or another have also
received their punishment here. Some of them came here but died after
washing in the water.”
Adding his voice to the punishment those who soiled their hands receive
at the shores of the mystery river, Ugochukwu narrated how a man came
and tried to fetch some water but the water he fetched turned red and all
efforts he made to put the water into his container failed. He stated that
the man attempted to take a bath in the water but died after confessing
that he killed two of his boys, who were learning trade in his shop.
“He died inside here and the Okada that transported the dead body to the
main road charged a fee of N7, 500,” he said.
Although there is no accurate account of the number of people, who have
died at “Bethsaida,” there are speculations that, at least, five persons lost
their lives.
Chief C.C Illobi, businessman, who deals on plates and hails from
Anambra State, came to “Bethsaida” in December to do business. Said
he: “Before I came here, I had been hearing stories about this place. I was
determined to see things for myself. I wanted to be convinced. When I
came here, it dawned on me that the stories were factual. I have
witnessed several miracles. I have seen the blind regain their sights here;
it happened in my presence. There was also a woman, who carried her
pregnancy for four years; people saw her and witnessed it. She did not
believe the stories she heard but when her relations came here and saw
what was happening, they convinced her to also come. Her brother
brought her here on a Friday; the next day, she went into labour and
delivered.”
“One man, who says he worships with Christ Embassy came here with his
Bible a few hours ago. He prayed for a long time and went to bath in the
water but immediately he came out he fell down. People started telling
him to start confessing but as a prophet too, I told them that the man
was not evil, that they should leave him alone. They carried him off the
sun to a cool place; I took a sachet water and poured on him. After
sometime, he regained consciousness and said he had never seen a thing
like that, adding that he now believed that God was at work here.
“Another man came here and asked if we were sure that miracle happened
here; people cautioned him. They told him that if he was in doubt he
should spend some time there and see for himself. He started videoing
the environment and those swimming. But when he finished and wanted
to view what he had recorded, all he could see was a rainbow-like object,
covering the water.”
Mr. Ruben Onwe, from Izzi, in Ebonyi State, believes he had been poisoned
in one of his legs and decided to seek healing at “Bethsaida.” Said he:
“The water is wonderful; people have been talking about it even on the
Internet; the story is everywhere.So, I decided to come and be healed. And
after taking my bath in the water I believe I am healed.”
For Emeka Agu, from Okpatu, in Udi LGA of Enugu State, “the first time we
came here, my wife used the water and sand we got from here to
massage one of her relatives, who had a swollen leg. The leg was so
swollen he couldn’t even lift it. A few minutes after administering the
sand and water on the leg, the man started jumping up, that he was
healed. We that brought the water and gave him were amazed;
personally, I thought the man was joking, but he kept jumping around in
excitement.
“The following day, he called on phone to announce that the leg had been
completely healed. After a week, he continued calling to say the thing had
disappeared. That was when I believed that things were really happening
here. Personally, I have been feeling lighter and better within me since I
came.”
