Mild drama occurred yesterday in Atimbo, Calabar Municipal Local Government Area, Cross River State, as a result of a colony of millipedes brought by an ex-lover (male) to a woman who broke her pledge to marry him after he helped her finish school invading an apartment.
Reporters learned that a middle-aged woman lived in the apartment at 4, Orok Effiom Street off Atimbo and that the colony of millepedes was a customary kind of "summons."
A letter explaining why the colony of millipedes was sent to the woman's residence was also delivered with the colony of millipedes.
An eyewitness, who didn’t want his name in print, said: “She refused to marry the man who saw her through the university, and when she got back as a graduate she started behaving funny to the man.
“From what we heard, she told her ex-lover that she can no longer marry him because she cannot end up with an illiterate husband. The man could not stomach the betrayal any longer and then decided to go spiritual.
“We believe the man went to their deity and summoned her from there, somewhere in Akwa Ibom (Oron). So, from the note that came with the colony of millipede she must go and explain herself or face the consequence which may not be too good.”
“ As I speak to you she has left the house, I saw her this morning, but the Summons (a colony of millipedes) appeared at her doorstep last night (Wednesday),”
When Vanguard visited the scene of the incident, there was a large crowd and the girl in question had abandoned her apartment for fear, it was however gathered that the millipedes will remain there until she meets the demand as stated in the letter.
Another eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said she must pay the cost incurred by her ex-boyfriend before the cleansing will be carried out else her life might be in grave danger.
“If any of the millipedes is killed intentionally she will perform a full burial rite and also buy a coffin and do all the ceremony involved, “ he said.