The community of Ngwo, Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State, has been plunged into grief and outrage after a shocking case of betrayal, abduction, and murder involving two members of the same family.
A five-year-old boy, identified as Wisdom, was reportedly lured, kidnapped, and brutally murdered by his 17-year-old cousin, Ikedi Obodo Agu, in a chilling crime that has left residents horrified.
According to findings, the tragic incident unfolded when little Wisdom was innocently playing hide-and-seek with his peers before Ikedi deceptively led him away. Ikedi allegedly handed the boy over to a Hausa security guard, with sinister plans to sell him for ritual purposes.
When the supposed “buyer” failed to show up, Ikedi turned to extortion, initially demanding a ransom of ₦15 million from Wisdom’s family. However, when negotiations collapsed — with his demand falling drastically from ₦200,000 to ₦40,000 — the family insisted they would only pay after speaking directly with the boy.
Fearing exposure, Ikedi, who had kept the child blindfolded and tied in a nearby bush, savagely clubbed Wisdom to death and buried him in a shallow grave close to his father’s compound.
The harrowing crime came to light after Emmanuel Chinedu Ozoagu, a community member, shared the disturbing details on Facebook, including photos of Ikedi and Wisdom, as well as a video showing the exhumation of the child’s remains.
“Fearing the boy would recognize him, Ikedi — who had kept Wisdom in the bush — clubbed him to death and buried him there. Police were alerted, and both Ikedi and the security guard were arrested. Wisdom’s body was later exhumed and laid to rest in a befitting burial,” Ozoagu wrote.
He further disclosed that police technology, alongside the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, tracked the security guard who had been making ransom calls. Ikedi was brought back to the scene to identify the shallow grave, narrowly escaping mob justice from enraged youths who wanted instant revenge.
In his emotional note, Ozoagu added:
“To Ikedi, it’s a long walk to redemption — you did the crime, you will do the time.”
“To Mr. Vincent Obodo Agu, father of Ikedi, may God give you the strength to bear this shameful tragedy.”
“To Mr. Jude Amadi Obodo Agu, father of Wisdom, may God comfort you and your family.”
He concluded with a solemn prayer: “Ozoemena — may such evil never happen again.”
As of press time, efforts to reach Enugu State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls.
The heartbreaking murder has sparked fresh conversations about rising cases of ritual-related crimes and the need for vigilance within families and communities.
PIONEER NEWS 