Connect with us

Crime

Delta herbalist arrested as police recover two murder victims’ bodies

Published

on

The Delta State Police Command has nabbed a 20-year-old herbalist, Amechi Okwuokenye, and his step-brother for the kidnapping and killing of two persons and recovered bodies in Owa-Alidima, Ika-North East Local Government Area of Delta State

The spokesperson for the command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

He said, “On September 30, 2025, Mr Friday Liberty, 22 years old, visited his herbalist, whom he had known for some time now, but this time, he never returned. The family, who initially didn’t know what happened to their brother, started looking for him.

“The girlfriend of the deceased then informed the family that she heard a conversation about the said Friday Liberty and a certain herbalist, and advised that they should reach out to the said herbalist.

“The family contacted the herbalist, who denied seeing him but promised to do some spiritual incantations so their brother could return alive. Having spent money on the herbalist, and the result was not forthcoming, they then reported the matter at the Agbor Area Command via a petition on October 14, 2025.

“The Area Command detectives embarked on an intelligence-led investigation. During the course of the investigation, the detectives uncovered the last person whom Friday Liberty contacted, and found out it was the same herbalist who denied knowing his whereabouts.”

The PPRO stated that surveillance was laid around the herbalist’s shrine at Owa-Alidima in Ika North East LGA, for days, until he was arrested on October 23, 2025, while hiding inside a refrigerator. Upon arrest of the herbalist, Amechi Okwuokenye, aged 20 years, he confessed that both he and his brother, Smart Okwuokenye, 26, kidnapped the victim, Friday Liberty, and the motorcycle rider identified as Isioma Ugbeje, who carried him to the shrine.

See also  PHOTOS: 141 Nigerians arrested over wire fraud, romance scam, s3xtortion in Ghana

“They further stated that Friday Liberty had been his long-time customer who frequently visited him to hypnotise clients so they could give him money easily (in his words, ‘to tie clients‘). The herbalist said his elder brother approached him that he needed money and advised him to lure any of his clients so they could kidnap him and ask for ransom, and the unlucky person they could lure was Friday Liberty.

“They kidnapped him and the Okada Rider and demanded a ransom of N10 million. When they noticed that the plan was not working, they murdered him and the motorcycle rider and dumped their bodies in a soakaway pit by the shrine”

Edafe stated that the remains of the victims had been evacuated and deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

“The suspects are in custody, and the remains of the victims have been evacuated and deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

“The Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, assures the public that the command will ensure that justice is served in this case,” Edafe concluded.

The arrest of the Okwuokenye brothers reflects a disturbing pattern of ritual-related killings linked to herbalists across Nigeria.

PUNCH Metro reported in February 2021 that a 28-year-old herbalist was arrested in Bauchi State for allegedly killing four children, aged between two and four, for ritual purposes.

In May, PUNCH Metro reported that the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps arrested one Samuel Adewunmi, also known as Ifa Science, for allegedly cutting the body part of a two-month-old baby for ritual purposes.

See also  GRAPHIC PHOTOS: Army troops and CJTF neutralise 21 terrorists in Borno

Experts note that such crimes fall within the wider “money ritual” phenomenon, where individuals seek perceived spiritual means to attract wealth—an issue that has prompted repeated warnings from religious and law-enforcement authorities.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crime

150 terrorists convicted in 48 hours, says AGF

Published

on

The Federal Government has secured approximately 150 convictions within the first two days of its latest phase of mass terrorism trials, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), disclosed on Tuesday.

Fagbemi made the disclosure while speaking with journalists at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the trials are being conducted simultaneously before 10 judges of the court.

The AGF said the current phase, which commenced on Monday, had already recorded about 160 trials leading to roughly 150 convictions on its first day alone.

“Yesterday, we had about 160 trials. I think about 150 convictions,” Fagbemi told reporters.

He added that proceedings on Tuesday brought approximately 300 cases before the courts, with another 84 cases expected to be concluded before the close of the day.

“Whatever we can do, or wherever we stop today, we’ll continue tomorrow and also on Thursday. So it’s still ongoing,” the minister said.

Fagbemi appealed for patience from members of the public as the exercise continued, stressing that the initiative reflected the government’s commitment to justice, accountability and the rule of law.

On Monday, the AGF had said the ongoing phase marked the fourth round of mass terrorism trials conducted since the inception of the current administration, describing the exercise as a clear signal that the government would not tolerate terrorism in any form.

“The message is clear, direct and straightforward. It is that the present administration is not taking the issue of terrorism with levity. And that is why you see ongoing trials.

See also  GRAPHIC PHOTOS: Army troops and CJTF neutralise 21 terrorists in Borno

“Since the inception of this administration, this is about the fourth phase that we are undertaking. So the message is that let everybody know that terrorism in whatever form or shape will not be tolerated,” Fagbemi added.

The prosecution is being led by the AGF himself, while the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, heads the defence team.

Among the judges handling the cases are Justices Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman, James Omotosho, Obiora Egwuatu and Ekerete Akpan, with proceedings taking place across several courtrooms simultaneously.

The current phase of trials is expected to run through Thursday, with the overall exercise scheduled to last one week.

The latest phase follows a previous round conducted between April 7 and April 10, during which no fewer than 500 alleged terrorists were tried before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

Continue Reading

Crime

Police arrest man for sharing fake video of bandit attack in Ekiti

Published

on

The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a man, Sunday Olawale, over allegedly spreading fake news of bandits’ attack on Are Ekiti in the Irepodun Ifelodun Local Government area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, said in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday that the suspect, who confessed to the crime, had been unable to give a reason for the false information.

Abutu stated, “The Police Command wishes to reiterate that there was no bandit invasion in Are Ekiti or any part of the Ekiti State”.

The statement reads in part: “On 14th of June, 2026, the Command Rapid Response Squad trailed and arrested one Sunday Olawale at Ekute area of Ado Ekiti for cyberstalking and giving of false information intended to cause breakdown of law and order.

“It would be recalled that on the 12th of June 2026, a video was circulating on social media claiming that bandits had invaded Are Ekiti. The video was later confirmed to be false.

“During the investigation, the suspect confessed to having peddled the false information on social media and was unable to give any satisfactory reason for his action.

“The State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, while warning that the Command will not tolerate any act of fake news peddling or content capable of initiating panic among members of the public, advises members of the public to always verify information they believe or share on social media,” the PPRO stated.

See also  GRAPHIC PHOTOS: Army troops and CJTF neutralise 21 terrorists in Borno
Continue Reading

Crime

Police confirm three security operatives killed in NIPSS Plateau gunmen attack

Published

on

The Plateau State Police Command has confirmed that three security operatives were killed in an attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, in the early hours of Monday.

In an information update in Jos on Tuesday, signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo, the command said, “The Plateau State Police Command, on a very sad note, wishes to confirm the incident that occurred in the early hours of today, 16th June 2026, involving security personnel on duty at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru.

“Regrettably, three security personnel lost their lives during the incident.”

The command disclosed that security has been beefed up around the facility following the attack.

“Security reinforcements have been deployed, and patrols have been intensified around the general area by the Commissioner of Police, CP Bassey Ewah,” SP Alabo stated.

The police also assured residents that calm has returned to the area.

“The situation is under control and normal activities have resumed,” the statement added.

On the next steps, the command said, “Investigation is ongoing. The command urges members of the public to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.”

The PPRO concluded that “Further updates will be communicated in due course.”

NIPSS Kuru is Nigeria’s premier policy training institution for senior public officials.

The attack marks one of the most serious security breaches at the facility in recent years.

See also  PHOTOS: Angry villagers protest as herdsmen k!ll Catholic choirmaster, father and son in Benue
Continue Reading

Trending