You can’t tell a man who to worship, but you would definitely be surprised when you hear that he worships a python.
The surprise is an understatement, you will be scared. Does that however mean that the python won’t one day kill him if he goes closer to it, you will know the answer after reading this?
Right here in Nigeria, there are several communities that not only revere snakes but also observe a tradition of not killing them. Snakes are more often than not, regarded as vile creatures.
From time immemorial, they’ve wielded terror amongst humans with several accounts from history and religious philosophies branding them the ultimate enemy.
This, however, isn’t always the case. In such places, killing snakes often attracts very serious penalties such as human-like funeral rites for the killed snake.
1.Nembe, Bayelsa:
It is forbidden to kill snakes in this Bayelsan community. Such actions could attract serious sanctions as in the case of a Youth Corp member who was made to pay N120,000 for sacrifices after he killed a snake.
The python in Nembe is considered a totem. The Nembe people believe that the spirit being (A deity) does appear through the python. In Nembe land, they use traditional methods to remove a python seen in their houses or that block their way.
They give so much respect to the pythons to the extent that, they bury any python found dead in Nembe as tradition demands.
2. Anambra:
In several parts of Anambra including Idemili and Ukpor, Nnewi-South Local Government, it is forbidden to kill pythons and green snakes. Killing these creatures would lead said snake killer to perform burial rites for the python.
Interestingly enough, there have been no incidents of pythons killing the villagers as they’re merely shooed away when sighted by villagers. Idemili is a local government area in Anambra State and they cherished and worshipped the python.
The python is a deity that is well respected by the Idemili people and it lives in harmony with the people. Killing a python in this place is forbidden and has penalties as it is dedicated to the shrine where they worship.
3. Imo:
In Mgbidi, the headquarters of the Oru West Local government area of Imo State it is also forbidden to kill pythons as they’re regarded as one of the gods of the community.
Going against this time-tested tradition could lead to similar consequences as in Ukpor above. Many parts of Imo state have a feared deity as python which they worship. Many people said that during the civil war, that the python aid the people to escape from dangers.
4. Ebonyi:
The Okposi community in Ebonyi state revere green snakes and it is absolutely forbidden to kill these creatures.
5. Ile Alakpa, Ogbomoso:
It is also forbidden to kill snakes in this community. Also in Oke Ogun, Oyo state, there is a tradition that has passed through several generations, this community also frowns at killing snakes
6. Machina, Yobe State
In some parts of Yobe State, they believe it is an abomination to kill the snake because they are said to be members of the royal house. The snakes possess very dangerous venom but do not attack people whenever they come out.
They are normally seen when the royals are mourning or celebrating an occasion. It is also forbidden to kill snakes in Machina LGA of Yobe state.
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