A 13-year-old girl has been rescued from an alleged ritual kidnapping in Umuojor village, Ishiagu community, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigerian police have confirmed.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the rescue was carried out around 3:15am on May 27 by officers from the Umumba Division, working in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch personnel and local community members.
According to the police, three men were arrested at the scene: Uche Kingsley Agumba, 33; Ilo Nweze Onyedikachi, 36; and Ejike Odinwankpa, 38. The prime suspect, identified as High Chief Levi Onyeka Obu — also known by the nicknames “Ezeani” and “E-Dey-Play-E-Dey-Show” — is reported to be a native doctor and remains at large.
Officers also discovered two decomposing bodies, one male and one female, buried in a concrete-sealed pit within an uncompleted building believed to be used as a shrine.
Police said the building is owned by the fleeing suspect and was allegedly used for ritual activities.
Ndukwe further said that investigations revealed that the “deceased victims were recently murdered and buried in the pit by the suspects for ritual purposes, and the rescued child was moments away from suffering the same fate before the timely intervention”.
He added that the Enugu State Government had demolished the buildings owned by the fleeing prime suspect and used for the criminal enterprise.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, visited the crime scene, and commended the efforts of the police operatives, local security groups, and community members, “whose collaboration ensured the success of the operation”.
He also directed the Command’s Tactical Squads, as well as Investigation and Intelligence Units, to intensify efforts in tracking down the fleeing suspect and other accomplices still at large.
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