From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
A 67-year-old father, Uwakwe Eze and his 48-year-old native doctor, Enuwa Odugu have been arrested by the operatives of Enugu State Police Command, for the murder of his son.
The victim, 26-year-old Chikwado Celestine Eze was said to have died at the native doctor’s shrine during a ritual process.
This is just as the Command also arrested two young men, Okoro Chukwuebuka Kingsley, 24, and Ogbonna Samuel Chiedozie, 18, for also conspiring and murdering 52-year-old Mrs. Patience Nkem Charles.
Disclosing the arrests the State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe (DSP), said the incident of the 26-year-old Eze occured while his father took him to the native doctor for alleged fortification.
He said, “The incident is alleged to have occurred when Uwakwe Eze took his son to the native doctor’s shrine for rituals intended to fortify him with charms. However, during the ritual, the deceased was buried in a coffin but he unfortunately died in the process.
“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 native doctor confessed to the crime and the previous performance of such rituals, attributing the death of the victim to his non-adherence to certain ritualistic rules he earlier prescribed for him.”
Ndukwe said the case was under investigation, and that the suspects who were being held for conspiracy and murder would be arraigned in court once investigations were concluded.
On the case of Okoro Kingsley and Ogbonna Chiedozie, the PPRO said they were arrested for also conspiring and murdering 52-year-old Mrs. Patience Charles, a crime he disclosed was motivated by a grudge Kingsley held from his time as her former security guard in 2021.
He said, “The suspects confessed to strangling the victim in her home, leading to their arrest through police intelligence. They have already been arraigned in court and remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Custodial Centre.
“Both cases showcase serious criminal activities linked to personal grievances and harmful traditional practices, with the police actively investigating and prosecuting those involved.”