Terwase Agbadu: Origin of a Makurdi suburb

Terwase Agbadu, situated in a Makurdi suburb adjacent to Judges Quarters – a prestigious area populated by the affluent class in Benue State, stands in stark contrast as it primarily accommodates low-income earners of the society. The man associated with the naming of the suburb shares a captivating tale of his legendary healing abilities with […]

Terwase Agbadu, situated in a Makurdi suburb adjacent to Judges Quarters – a prestigious area populated by the affluent class in Benue State, stands in stark contrast as it primarily accommodates low-income earners of the society.

The man associated with the naming of the suburb shares a captivating tale of his legendary healing abilities with our correspondent in Makurdi during a one-hour conversation at his home in Terwase Agbadu community.

“I’m the Terwase Agbadu; part of my name is also Michael. When I relocated from Tse-Poor (a distance of five minutes drive) to this place in 1977, there were only about four houses. I was not the first settler. In fact, this area was then called ‘Gbudu Daniel’ and there was no Judges Quarters. Apart from the few houses, every where else around here was a forest.

“This area, which is today referred to as Terwase Agbadu, was like a stream such that whenever it rained, the place was flooded. Then, I would secure the help of young men around to clear debris from the walk-ways to enable vehicles conveying sick people gain access to my house.

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“The name actually became popular because of people who came for treatment. Whenever they were coming or referring others to my house, they would simply say they were going to Terwase Agbadu. So, people started referring to this settlement as ‘Terwase Agbadu’,” he narrated.

While reminiscing about his legacy, 80-year-old Pa Micheal Terwase Agbadu, recalled how he gained divine healing powers after a near-death experience and how God instructed him in a dream on utilising a tree’s concoction to cure various illnesses.

Agbadu said his journey into healing, which brought him to limelight, began around 1977 while he taught Religious Education at the Roman Catholic Mission (RCM) in his hometown in Gwer East LGA of Benue State.

He recalled teaching for over four years during which period he fell into several trances with one of such experiences being remarkable after he fell ill and was mistaken for dead. His relatives afterwards starting making preparations for burial.

They were however astonished when he later recovered from the long trance, and then proceeded immediately to practice all that was divinely revealed to him.

“I grew up as a young man serving some Roman Catholic priests. I was trained by the priests and taught the religious studies in RCM. At a point, I became a Catechist. It was in the course of serving that I had a health challenge, and on one occasion while teaching the children in school from Isaiah Chapter 5: 1-30, I started having palpitations so I took permission from the other teachers to go inside the room and rest.

“While in the room, I read from the same scripture I was teaching the children, then placed the Bible on my chest and slept off. That was the beginning of my encounter with the divine; it started with a voice calling my name repeatedly, at a point I followed the instructions the voice dictated and wrote things I saw and was told.

“I was also shown people in chains, others tied lying down helplessly. I saw a writing in three languages of Hausa, Arabic and English – indicating that if the people of the world refuses to change their bad ways, they would be thrown into the lake of fire. It was then I collapsed and didn’t know what was happening around me. I couldn’t sleep for seven days; on the eight day, I found some sleep during which I got the revelation of how to heal people using water and herbs.

“I was asked to choose between the money I saw in the dream and healing the people in chains and I opted for the healing power considering my own health challenge. I therefore requested from God to bless my hands so that whoever I laid it on will recover from their illnesses. I also saw three beautiful women in my vision who told me to ask God to give them to me and that my request would be granted. That was the point I woke up and saw people crying in the neighbourhood that I had died,” the octogenarian further narrated.

After Agbadu’s divine experience, he began experimenting with the herbs from the tree he saw in his visions and following the instructions given to him, he immediately regained his health. Then word spread about his encounter with divine beings, prompting people to seek him out at the school where he taught.

Initially overwhelmed by the crowd seeking healing, the school authorities became concerned so he had to scheduled meetings with the sick on weekends. Agbadu said his visions had begun before he turned 20 while at St. Patrick Primary School in Taraku, Gwer East LGA but he interpreted them as a spiritual attack, and eventually requested a transfer to St. Vincent, Tse-Poor in Makurdi LGA to continue teaching.

At Tse-Poor, he thought the visions would go away but it didn’t, rather he began to see the spiritual beings physically around him. He then decided to shift to his present place (Terwase Agbadu) from Tse-Poor as the number of people coming to seek healing increased and the need for a bigger space arose.

Today, the vicinity, now home to St. Dominic Catholic Church and other notable Benue natives, has garnered fame for its healing myth linked to Pa Agbadu, after whom it is named.

Despite having limited education, Agbadu’s reputation grew. Having entertained dignitaries, attributing his success to hard work and his healing gift, bestowed in a dream, the elderly legend however has little or no physical wealth to show for the feat.

He recalled that in his hay days, the late Governor Aper Aku, made him go around the state for healing rituals and detailed security around his premises to protect those who came for healing, adding that, “I treated people without collecting a dime from them but most of them, after they are healed, usually come back to appreciate me. I have treated a lot of barren women who eventually gave birth to children.

“I do this by fetching water with which I cook the herbs from the tree in my compound and after saying some prayers, I would pour the water on them and the sickness will leave them.

“In 1981, the late Governor Aku called me to go and represent Benue State in Lagos at a national traditional medicine competition. I went to Lagos and won that competition for Benue State. When I came back, the late governor was very happy with me and built me this house (pointed at one of the houses in the compound now dilapidated).”

Agbadu however appealed for government assistance in making life more comfortable for him and providing accommodation for treating patients as he expressed disappointment at the lack of recognition for his contributions to traditional medicine.

He further recounted his healing journey over 45 years with nostalgia, crediting his ability to cure ailments – particularly mental illnesses, bareness and fractured bones to herbs from a tree which stood as a symbol in his compound of several thatched houses, some of which were inhabited by ailing patients.

Agbadu told our correspondent that he was husband to many wives and father to at least 60 children as far as he could now remember while his grandchildren are more than he could presently count. He however said of the remaining six wives; some died while others left him.

“Right now, I’m alone without any wife. That is why I returned to my church to become more dedicated to God. I feel fulfilled because throughout those years, I never gave anybody who came to me what would harm them. So, when I go out, some people recognise me and give me gifts.

“I still carry out healings in some areas now but I have slowed down on some things because I have become a communicant in my church (Roman Catholic). I’m even just coming from a place where I was invited for a child’s naming ceremony, the woman had been barren for 25 years and through my herbs she was able to conceive.

“My only regret is marrying a lot of women because it sets back the progress of a man. Many of them come with different spirits into a man’s life. Presently, I spend most of my time praying, going to church in the morning and evening. I spend my time reading the Bible and rosary. For the rest of my days on earth, I desire to be focused on God and things of the kingdom.

“I’m now like a woman who went to the farm, parked her firewood at the end of the day to return and cook for her family. I’m just getting myself prepared for the great call and praying that God will have mercy upon me. However, I have not passed the gifts to any of my children because God has not given me permission to do so; I’m still praying for divine guidance on how to pass it to the next generation,” Agbadu posited.