Police in Rivers State, southern Nigeria, have arrested four people, including a traditional healer and a teenage girl, in connection with the alleged ritual killing of two young siblings.
The children, identified as Chizaram Onuche and Chidinma Onuche, both aged seven, were reportedly drugged and killed in the Ogbodo Pipeline area of Rukpokwu in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.
A 27-year-old man, Aniekan Uko, is alleged to have lured the children to an uncompleted building, drugged them, and then killed them, also draining their blood.
Linda Ojims, a lawyer assisting with the police investigation, said the children were returning from church when Mr. Uko stopped them and took them to the building. She suggested the suspect may have hypnotised the children, causing them to follow him willingly.
Ms. Ojims explained that after taking the children to the building, he gave them a drink that made them fall asleep, before allegedly raping and murdering them.
The police spokesperson for Rivers State, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Wednesday. She said officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit acted swiftly and apprehended the main suspect and his accomplices on March 23, 2025. She described the case as “horrific.”
According to the police, Mr. Uko confessed to the crime, stating that he became involved in ritual killings after visiting a traditional healer. He claimed to have witnessed the healer performing similar rituals for others in exchange for wealth and was instructed to provide fresh human remains and blood for ritual purposes.
During the arrests, police recovered crucial evidence, including a bottle containing the victims’ blood, a kitchen knife believed to have been used in the murders, an empty can of an energy drink allegedly used to drug the children, and a spoon used to collect their blood.
The bodies of the victims have been taken to a mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, assured the public that the suspects would be brought to justice. He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
“Investigations are ongoing to uncover further details and possible accomplices. The safety and security of all citizens remain our top priority,” Mr. Adepoju said.
Meanwhile, Ms. Ojims commended the police for their swift action in arresting the suspects and called for a thorough investigation and prosecution to ensure justice is served.
“If these perpetrators were not caught, we don’t even know what would have happened next. It could have been any other person I know. So I’m looking up to the police to do a diligent job because justice for one is justice for all,” she said.
Ms. Ojims also urged the police to prepare their findings and ensure the case is properly prosecuted in court, emphasising the need for justice for the children.
The case has shocked the local community and highlights the ongoing concerns in parts of Nigeria regarding ritual killings and the belief in the efficacy of human body parts for wealth and power.
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