Operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have arrested a well-known native doctor, Levi Obieze, popularly called ‘E de play, e de show,’ who is wanted by the Enugu State Police Command for alleged involvement in abduction, kidnapping, and ritual killings.
The Comptroller General of the NIS, Kemi Nandap, confirmed the arrest on Thursday through a statement issued by the Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi. The statement, titled ‘Nigeria Immigration Service confirms arrest of notorious crime suspect, Obi Levi Obieze,’ detailed how the suspect was apprehended.
“Through credible intelligence, Obi Levi Obieze was apprehended by vigilant men of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Border Patrol Command, at Gbaji checkpoint along Badagry-Seme Road while attempting to flee the country on a motorcycle,” the statement read.
Obieze, who resides in Umuojor village, Isiagu Community, Enugu State, and is known as a native doctor, is alleged to have abducted a 13-year-old girl on Tuesday. The incident came shortly after the community was thrown into shock following the discovery of two decomposing bodies of pregnant women in the soakaway pit of a native doctor’s premises on Monday.
The gruesome discovery was linked to the girl’s kidnapping, which reportedly occurred as she walked to the farm with her father.
“She was walking with her father to the farm on Monday when two men riding on a motorcycle stopped and pretended that their motorcycle had developed faults.
“One of the men told the father of the little girl to please help them with his cutlass to use and fix the fault in the motorcycle, which the man obliged.
“They said the fault would require pushing the bike and begged him to help. It was in this process that one of the men grabbed the girl and jumped onto the motorcycle, and they zoomed off,” a source told The Guardian.
Following the abduction, the father raised the alarm, prompting local vigilante groups and police officers to begin a search. Residents later reported hearing screams from a bush near Obieze’s residence. The search party proceeded to his compound, where the native doctor reportedly tried to prevent them from entering.
However, the vigilante team overpowered him, searched the property, and successfully rescued the kidnapped girl. Further inspection led to the discovery of two decomposing bodies of pregnant women in separate soakaway pits, triggering public outrage.
In a video that has since circulated on social media, residents were seen parading Obieze naked through the streets.
The native doctor, known for flaunting wealth and spraying cash at public events, had reportedly gone into hiding along with his four wives before his arrest.
Akinlabi stated that, “He is currently in custody, and his identity has been confirmed through a National Identity Management Commission enrollment slip found in his possession.
“During initial questioning, he admitted to the alleged crimes.”
The NIS reiterated its commitment to securing Nigeria’s borders and confirmed it is working with the Nigeria Police Force to hand over the suspect for further investigation.
