The Enugu State Police Command, Wednesday, confirmed the rescue of a 13-year-old girl (name withheld), allegedly kidnapped for ritual at Umuojor village in Ishiagu community of Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state.
This was contained in a release by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe. He stated that police operatives, attached to the Umumba Division, in the early hours of May 27, 2025, at about 3:15am, in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch personnel and vigilant community members, carried out the rescue operations.
He stated that, “The operation also led to the arrest of three male suspects connected to the crime, namely: Uche Kingsley Agumba, aged 33; Ilo Nweze Onyedikachi, aged 36; and Ejike Odinwankpa, aged 38. The prime suspect, identified as High Chief Levi Onyeka Obu, nicknamed ‘Ezeani’ and ‘E-Dey-Play-E-Dey-Show’, a native doctor and prominent member of the community, fled the scene and is currently at large.”
The PPRO added that during the rescue, two decomposing bodies, one male and one female, were discovered buried in a concrete-sealed pit within an uncompleted building, “owned and used as a shrine, and heinous criminal activities by the fleeing prime suspect”.
Ndukwe said 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.