Enugu Native Doctor Arrested for Ritual Killings Claims Dead Bodies Were Planted by Village Enemies

A native doctor from Enugu State, Obi Levi Obieze, also known as Levi Obu Onyeka, has claimed that decomposing bodies found in the soakaway pit of his home were planted by his enemies to frame him. Obieze was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) while attempting to flee the country through the Badagry-Seme border.

Obieze, a native of Umuojor village in the Isiagu community, Ezeagu Local Government Area, had been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force in connection with the abduction of a 13-year-old girl and multiple ritual killings. He was on the run until his arrest on Thursday.

The police had earlier rescued the teenage girl, who was abducted while on her way to the farm with her father. She was later found in a shrine allegedly operated by Obieze. A search of the shrine in his hometown led to the discovery of two decomposing bodies hidden in a pit sealed with concrete.

Three individuals—Uche Kingsley Agumba (33), Ilo Nweze Onyedikachi (36), and Ejike Odinwankpa (38)—were arrested in connection with the abduction. Obieze, however, remained at large until his capture by immigration officers at the Gbaji checkpoint. According to reports, he was trying to escape Nigeria on a motorcycle.

During interrogation, Obieze told officers that he resides in Benin Republic, where he works as an Okrika (fairly used clothing) trader. When asked where he was headed, he responded vaguely: “I don’t know where I’m heading to right now because they say before you kill somebody, allow the person to talk.”

He denied the allegations, claiming, “The issue concerning me is political. It’s a fabrication because I’m supposed to be the next king, and some people in my village don’t want that. They are doing everything to bring me down. The President General (PG) of my village even went and demolished my house.”

Asked if he was a native doctor, Obieze denied it, saying, “No. All these things are just to weaken me. I’m homeless now. I don’t even have a house.”

He alleged that a rival group from his village planted the corpses in his soakaway to discredit him: “They planted someone. There’s a place I’m building a new house—far from the one I live in. I don’t go there often. Because of this kingship issue, they set me up. Someone working with them planted a dead body in my soakaway. They caught the guy who did it. I didn’t know him before, and that was why I was free.”

Despite claiming to live in Benin Republic, Obieze could not present a passport and only had an ID card on him.