Police Arrest Four, Including Native Doctor, Over Ritual Killing of Two Children Returning from Church

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested four suspects, including a native doctor and a teenage girl, in connection with the ritual killing of two siblings, Chizaram Onuche and Chidinma Onuche. The incident occurred at the Ogbodo Pipeline area of Rukpokwu in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area (LGA).

State police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit swiftly acted on a report transferred from the Special Area Division, leading to the arrest of the suspects. During the operation, police recovered critical evidence, including a bottle containing the drained blood of the victims, both aged seven.

Those arrested include Aniekan Sunday Uko, Luis John Uwelemele, Kingsley Opurum, and Friday Silas. Uko, 27, is alleged to have lured the children, drugged them, and then murdered them before collecting their blood.

According to Linda Ojims, a lawyer assisting the police investigation, Uko stopped the children on their way home from church and took them to an uncompleted building. He then drugged them, committed sexual assault, and killed them.

During interrogation, Uko confessed to being introduced to ritual killings by a native doctor who had performed similar acts for others in exchange for wealth. The native doctor allegedly instructed him to provide fresh human remains and blood for ritualistic purposes.

Police officers who visited the crime scene documented evidence with photographs and recovered key exhibits, including a kitchen knife used as the murder weapon, a bottle filled with the victims’ blood, an empty can of Black Bullet energy drink used to drug them, and a spoon used to collect their blood. The victims’ bodies have been deposited at the 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 any other possible accomplices.