The Enugu State Police Command has apprehended a native doctor, Enuwa Odugu, and Uwakwe Eze following the tragic death of 26-year-old Chikwado Eze during a failed ritual ceremony.
The deceased’s father, Uwakwe, had taken his son to the native doctor for “fortification” purposes.
Police spokesperson Daniel Ndukwe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, revealed that the 67-year-old father brought his son to Odugu, 48, for a ritual that went horrifically wrong. “However, during the ritual, the deceased was buried in a coffin but he unfortunately died in the process,” Ndukwe stated.
“He was rushed to the hospital and confirmed dead by the attending doctor, and his body deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy,” the police spokesperson added.
During interrogation, the native doctor admitted to the crime and provided details about his previous successful rituals. Odugu blamed the victim’s death on his alleged failure to follow prescribed ritualistic rules.
“The case is under investigation, and the suspects will be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded,” Ndukwe confirmed.
In a separate case, the police also announced the arrest of two suspects for the murder of 52-year-old Patience Charles. The suspects, identified as Kingsley Okoro, 24, and Chiedozie Ogbonna, 18, have been taken into custody.
Ndukwe explained that Okoro, a former security guard to the deceased, allegedly committed the crime due to a lingering grudge from his employment in 2021. “The suspects have confessed to strangling the victim in her home,” he stated.
The police confirmed that both suspects have been arraigned and remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Custodial Centre, though specific details about the court proceedings were not disclosed.
“Both cases showcase serious criminal activities linked to personal grievances and harmful traditional practices, with the police actively investigating and prosecuting those involved,” Ndukwe said.
