Police Arrest Native Doctor for Murder of Customer and Motorcycle Rider, Bodies Found in Septic Tank

Delta State police have arrested a 20-year-old native doctor, Amechi Okwuokenye, in connection with the murder of a returning customer and a motorcycle rider, whose bodies were reportedly dumped in a septic tank.

According to the Delta State Police Command, the victim, 22-year-old Friday Liberty, went missing on September 30 after leaving his home. His family, initially unaware of his whereabouts, began searching for him. The investigation gained momentum when Liberty’s girlfriend mentioned a conversation linking him to a local herbalist, prompting the family to contact the man. The herbalist denied seeing Liberty but promised spiritual assistance to ensure his return. After receiving no results and spending money on the herbalist, the family lodged a formal complaint at the Agbor Area Police Command on October 14.

Police detectives launched an intelligence-led investigation, tracing Liberty’s last known contact to the herbalist. Surveillance was maintained around his shrine at Owa-Alidima in Ika North East LGA, leading to his arrest on October 23 while he hid inside a refrigerator. During interrogation, Amechi Okwuokenye admitted that he and his elder brother, Smart Okwuokenye, 26, kidnapped Liberty and a motorcycle rider, Isioma Ugbeje.

The suspects revealed that Liberty, a long-time client, frequently visited Amechi for rituals to hypnotize clients into giving him money. The elder brother allegedly proposed kidnapping a client to demand ransom, with Liberty chosen as the target. After the ransom attempt failed, both victims were killed and their bodies disposed of in a soakaway pit near the shrine.

Police confirmed that the suspects remain in custody while the victims’ remains have been recovered and taken to a mortuary for autopsy.