Imo community abolishes Osu caste system

An Imo Community, Ogbor Autonomous community, has abolished the controversial Osu caste system.

“The Osu cast system is a dehumanizing ancient practice that injures the psychology of those so-referred to,” acting president-general of Ogbor town union Joseph Onyekachi said at the abolishing event on Sunday.

“Therefore from today, one is no longer an osu by being dedicated to a shrine or so branded,” he added.

The Ohu, Ume and Osu caste systems are obnoxious practices in the Southe-east and much of the South-south regions of Nigeria, which has torn families and friends apart for generations. The Osus are allegedly dedicated to deities (Alusis) while the Ohus are said to have inherited slavery or servitude in perpetuity. Neither Osu nor Ohu is allowed to intermarry with the so-called Amadi (the freeborn) in communities where these practices are upheld.

Onyekachi said the practice is as old as other wicked, unbiblical and obnoxious practices such as slave trading, throwing/casting a human being into the jungle to be taken advantage of by nature and wild animals, killing of twins/multiple babies.

“Practices of all these wicked acts have since been legislated upon and therefore ought to have ceased,” he said.

Onyekachi added that the community’s monarch, HRR Eze Dr. M.E. Onweni, has been “very liberal in awarding chieftaincy titles(nobody has been discriminated against on account of being an OSU, save for those who plead Osu sentimentalities when their personal bad behaviours deny them.)”

In 2018, the obnoxious practices were also abolished in the ancient kingdom of Nri, in Anambra State.

The protracted plan for the spiritual exercise was initiated by Nollywood actor, Joseph Okechukwu’s Celibacy International in partnership with the Nri ruling dynasty and received the support of traditional rulers, church leaders, and civil society organisations.