Machina kingdom is a local government in Yobe state with about 61,000 people living on it according to the 2006 census. This place is widely known as a community where Snakes and Man have formed a very close relationship that they no longer hurt each other....CONTINUE READING
Snakes generally don’t like to be seen by Africans even though some snakes don’t always carry the intention to hurt but this stigma started from the garden of Eden when God cursed the serpent and said he will put enmity between it and man. Genesis 3:14.
But we have a spectacular story on our hand about a place in Nigeria where snakes are friends with the people and they are not permitted to be killed by the people as there are grievous repercussions for doing such.
The snakes usually come out to celebrate with the people in their time of celebrations and they also move around the homes and compounds of people with no intention to hurt anyone.
The Emir of Machina Kingdom, Alhaji (Dr) Bashir Albishir Bukar Machinama who is the 77th Emir of the kingdom stated that it is an abomination for anyone to kill snakes around the community.
The Emir stated that a particular Emir who once ruled the kingdom was born as a twin of a snake and from that time, the people had a fraternity with snakes where they became close friends. It is believed that the snakes are also royalty and they must be reverred.
The Emirs said “If we are celebrating, no matter what type of celebration, whether it is naming ceremony or there is going to be a birth in this palace, sometimes we see snakes coming out and we would wonder what is happening and pray that it is a thing of joy not of sadness.”
Defaulters who kills snakes whether indegenes or non indegenes end up dead amidst other punishments.
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