A tragic and chilling incident has rocked the Obiagu community in Enugu State, where a 23-year-old man, Chiemelie Nnaji, lost his life during a so-called spiritual cleansing at the Mmiri Ani River. What was meant to be a healing ritual ended in horror as the young man, who had a known history of epilepsy, drowned while his mother allegedly chanted incantations and refused to intervene.
Chiemelie, fondly known in the neighbourhood for his popular pork and chicken roasting stand in front of a local motel, was taken to the river by his mother—an alleged spiritualist known as Ezenwanyi. Accompanied by a client, they visited the river in an attempt to rid Chiemelie of what she believed were “spiritual afflictions” rather than a medical condition.
According to eyewitnesses, the cleansing quickly turned tragic when Chiemelie suffered an epileptic seizure and fell into the river. Shockingly, instead of rendering aid, his mother continued her incantations, ignoring pleas from the accompanying client who was reportedly in a state of panic.
“It was horrifying,” one witness told SaharaReporters. “We got there and found Ezenwanyi deep in chants while the other woman was weeping helplessly. We rushed in to drag him out, but it was already too late.”
Efforts to save Chiemelie were further frustrated as two hospitals reportedly refused to admit him. It wasn’t until he was taken to a third medical facility that he was finally pronounced dead.
The incident has since sparked outrage and sorrow within the community, with many condemning the dangerous reliance on superstitions and unregulated spiritual practices. Locals lamented the fact that a preventable medical condition ended in a needless death due to misplaced beliefs.
In the wake of public outcry, Ezenwanyi has been reportedly arrested by the Enugu State Police Command. However, as of press time, the police spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, has neither confirmed the arrest nor responded to inquiries regarding the case.
The death of Chiemelie Nnaji serves as a grim reminder of the lethal consequences of ignoring medical science in favour of unverified spiritual remedies. As investigations continue, many are calling for stricter regulations on traditional and spiritual healers, to prevent such heartbreaking tragedies from recurring.
PIONEER NEWS 