Man dies during ‘fortification’ ritual in his hometown

In Nigeria, an Onitsha-based businessman, Chikwado Eze, tragically died during a ritual in Inyi, a community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Eze, originally from Ugbaike community, had secured a visa for an overseas business trip and sought fortification from a native doctor to ensure success. 

The native doctor instructed that Eze be buried alive for one and a half hours as part of the ritual.

On the day of the ritual, Eze, accompanied by his father Uwakwe, was buried in a grave for the specified time. However, when exhumed, instead of being fortified, Eze was weak and drenched in sweat.

Despite the native doctor’s attempts to revive him with incantations, Eze remained unresponsive and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The incident occurred after Eze was buried alive for one hour and thirty minutes (1 hour, 30 minutes).

Both the father and the native doctor have been arrested by the police for interrogation. Uwakwe, previously ostracized by the Ugbaike community for involvement in dangerous charms, denied forcing his son into the ritual, stating that Eze had already prepared everything before inviting him.

Nigeria’s Vanguard has reported that the Nigeria Police Command in Enugu State has confirmed the death of the young man.

In a statement by the police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, it was confirmed that the native doctor, Enuwa Odugu (48), and the victim’s father, Uwakwe Eze (67), have been arrested for conspiracy and the murder of 26-year-old Chikwado Celestine Eze.

The police report noted that the native doctor confessed to the crime, as well as performing similar rituals in the past. He claimed that the victim’s death was caused by his failure to follow specific ritualistic rules that had been prescribed to him.

Ndukwe’s statement read: “A native doctor, one Enuwa Odugu ‘m’, aged 48, and Uwakwe Eze ‘m’, aged 67, were arrested for conspiracy and the murder of Eze’s 26-year-old son, one Chikwado Celestine Eze.

“The incident is alleged to have occurred when Uwakwe Eze took his son to the native doctor’s shrine for rituals intended to fortify him with charms. 

“However, during the ritual, the deceased was buried in a coffin but unfortunately died in the process. He was rushed to the hospital and confirmed dead by the attending doctor, and his body has been deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”

 “The police are continuing their investigation, and the suspects will be arraigned in court once the investigation is concluded”.