By Bellis Kweta
Enugu State Police Command reported the apprehension of a traditional healer and parent of a 26-year-old man named Chikwado Eze, who passed away during a failed protection ritual in the area.
Last week, a tragic event occurred in Ugbaike, Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.Reports said Chikwado got a visa to go overseas and came back to his village to tell his father, Mr. Uwakwe Eze, about it. Nevertheless, his father was determined to secure his son’s success abroad and brought him to a local healer named Onuwa for a fortification ceremony.The traditional healer known as Enuwa Odugu supposedly stated that Chikwado must undergo a one hour and thirty minute burial to receive full protection. Regrettably, Chikwado was discovered deceased when he was unearthed past the designated timeframe.
DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed in a statement issued late Tuesday night that the father of the deceased and the traditional healer had both been apprehended.The event reportedly happened when Uwakwe Eze brought his son to the healer’s sacred place to receive protective amulets. Nonetheless, while carrying out the ceremony, the deceased passed away while being laid to rest in a casket.
He was quickly taken to the hospital where the doctor on duty declared him deceased, and then his remains were transported to the mortuary for preservation and examination.
He explained that the traditional healer admitted to the crime and other similar rituals in the past, blaming the victim’s death on not following specific ritual rules he had set previously.
Ndukwe stated that the case is currently being investigated, and the suspects will appear in court after the investigation is complete.