In a chilling case that has once again stirred fears of ritual killings in southeastern Nigeria, the Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old woman linked to the gruesome murder and mutilation of a pregnant nurse in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area.
The victim, whose identity is being withheld pending family notification, was allegedly lured under false pretenses and brutally murdered. Her dismembered remains were later discovered in a soakaway pit, sending shockwaves through the local community and reigniting concerns over a dangerous rise in ritual-related killings across the region.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the suspect, identified as Somtochukwu Nwafor, was apprehended on July 25 with the assistance of residents in Umueri village, Ogbunike.
During interrogation, Nwafor confessed to being the girlfriend of the prime suspect, Chiemerie Obika Elobisi, who is currently at large. She further admitted to aiding in cleaning up the crime scene after the pregnant nurse was murdered and disclosed that human body parts were harvested and sold to various “evil native doctors” operating in the area.
“She stated that she was called by the suspect to clean the bloodstains after the victim was murdered,” said Ikenga. “She further revealed how they sell the body parts to different native doctors engaged in ritual practices within the locality.”
Acting on the confession, detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) launched a targeted operation in the early hours of July 29, storming the shrine of one Nwafor Chibunna Ofornwatadile at Itima Amawa village, Ogbunike. Shocking discoveries were made—suspected human parts were found concealed in cellophane bags. The shrine has since been sealed, while a manhunt for Ofornwatadile and other suspected accomplices is underway.
“The Command is not relenting. We have launched a manhunt for the prime suspect and others involved in this wicked enterprise,” Ikenga declared, vowing justice for the murdered woman and her unborn child.
Reacting to the horrific developments, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, condemned the killing in the strongest terms, describing it as “inhumane, criminal, and an affront to public morality and the sanctity of life.”
He urged members of the public to come forward with credible information to aid the investigation, assuring that whistleblowers would be protected under the law. “This Command remains resolute in uprooting all forms of criminality, especially those bordering on ritualistic killings and human trafficking,” the CP emphasized.
This incident adds to a growing list of ritualistic murders that have plagued Anambra and surrounding states in recent months. In March 2025, the mutilated bodies of two teenage girls were found near a bush path in Nanka, Orumba North LGA—suspected to be victims of a ritual syndicate. Just last month, in June, a decomposing body with vital organs removed was discovered in a shallow grave in Oba community, prompting widespread protests by women and youth groups demanding swift action from authorities.
Security analysts have persistently warned of a resurgence in occult practices driven by money rituals and internet-fueled superstitions. Many believe these crimes are being enabled by underground trafficking networks and fraudulent native doctors who exploit gullible youths desperate for quick wealth.
In response, the Anambra Police Command, in collaboration with local vigilantes and traditional leaders, has stepped up operations to dismantle shrines and crack down on ritual dens scattered across rural and semi-urban communities.
As investigations continue, the Command has reiterated its resolve to stamp out these heinous acts and restore public confidence in the safety of all residents—especially women, who have increasingly become targets of ritual murderers.
“The blood of innocent Nigerians cannot continue to be the price paid for greed and superstition,” CP Orutugu declared.
PIONEER NEWS 