He didn’t follow rituals instruction, Enugu native doctor faults client who died in grave

A native doctor, Enuwa Odugu, from Inyi community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, has claimed that the death of his client, Chikwado Eze, during a fortification ritual was due to the client’s failure to adhere to prescribed ritual rules.

Odugu made this statement while in police custody, explaining that Chikwado was not the first person for whom he had conducted such rituals.

Chikwado, who had recently secured a visa to travel abroad, tragically died after being buried alive for one and a half hours as part of a fortification ritual meant to ensure his success in business overseas. The Enugu State Police Command confirmed that both the native doctor and Chikwado’s father, Uwakwe Eze, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

According to a statement from the police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, Chikwado’s death occurred after he was buried in a coffin during the ritual. Despite being rushed to a hospital, he was pronounced dead, and his body was later moved to a mortuary for an autopsy.

Odugu admitted to performing similar rituals in the past but insisted that Chikwado’s death was caused by his failure to follow certain ritual guidelines.

In a separate case, the police arrested 24-year-old Kingsley Okoro and his accomplice, 18-year-old Samuel Ogbonna, for the murder of 52-year-old Patience Nkem Charles. Kingsley, who had worked as a security guard for the victim in 2021, confessed to killing her out of personal grievance. The two suspects strangled the victim in her home and were later apprehended through police intelligence.

The police emphasized that both incidents highlight the dangers of personal vendettas and harmful traditional practices. Investigations are ongoing, and prosecutions are expected to follow.