“We Killed Him When Ransom Failed” — Herbalist Confesses In Delta

The Delta State Police Command has apprehended a 20-year-old herbalist, Amechi Okwuokenye, and his stepbrother, Smart Okwuokenye, 26, for their alleged involvement in the brutal murder of two men, 22-year-old Friday Liberty and a motorcyclist, Isioma Ugbeje.

According to a statement from the Command, the incident began on September 30, 2025, when Liberty visited his herbalist at Owa-Alidima in Ika North East Local Government Area but never returned home. After days of fruitless searching, Liberty’s girlfriend revealed to his family that she overheard discussions linking the deceased to the herbalist. When approached, the suspect denied seeing Liberty but promised to perform rituals to bring him back.

Frustrated by the lack of progress, the family lodged a formal complaint with the Agbor Area Command on October 14, 2025. Detectives immediately swung into action, using intelligence-led investigation to trace Liberty’s last known contact to the same herbalist. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives laid surveillance around his shrine and eventually arrested him on October 23, 2025, while he was hiding inside a refrigerator.

Upon interrogation, Amechi confessed that he and his brother lured and kidnapped Liberty alongside the motorcyclist who transported him to the shrine. He admitted that Liberty, a long-time client, had frequently sought his help to “hypnotize clients” for financial gains. However, the suspects decided to kidnap him for ransom, demanding ₦10 million. When the ransom failed, they murdered both victims and dumped their bodies in a soakaway pit near the shrine.

Police operatives have since recovered the decomposing bodies and deposited them at a mortuary for autopsy. The suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue.

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, condemned the heinous act and assured residents that justice will be served. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all citizens and the relentless pursuit of criminals across the state.