By: Felix Ikpotor
The Rivers State Police Command says it has arrested some suspects including a native doctor for alleged involvement in a horrific case of ritual killing of two children, Chizaram Onuche and Chidinma Onuche, both 7-year-olds.
The police said the arrest follows a report transferred from the Special Area Division, prompting operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to take swift action.
Police Spokesperson in the state, SP Grace Iringe-Koko in a statement said the arrest was made on 23rd March 2025, at approximately 9:00 am, adding that during the operation, law enforcement officers recovered key evidence, including a bottle containing the drained blood of the victims.
According to her, Mr Aniekan Sunday Uko (Male, 27 years), A native of Akwa Ibom, residing at 2nd Pipeline, Rukpokwu, usually lures victims to his location, drugged them using a drink known as Black Bullet as a sedative, and subsequently slaughtered them, collecting their blood in a bottle.
The statement added: “Luis John Uwelemele (Female, 19 years), a native of Cross River State, residing at Omuike, Aluu is the girlfriend of the first suspect, Aniekan and is linked to the crime while Kingsley Opurum (Male, 43 years) and a native of Etche, Rivers State, residing at 3rd Pipeline, Eneka. He has been implicated as the native doctor complicit in the murder of the deceased children”.
She also said another suspect, Friday Silas (Male, 47 years) and a native of Plateau State, residing at 2nd Pipeline, Rukpokwu claimed that he allowed the suspects to stay at the uncompleted building where the killings took place.
Iringe-Koko said Aniekan confessed that he became involved in the ritual killing after visiting the native doctor and witnessing him perform similar rituals for others in exchange for wealth, adding that the native doctor instructed him to provide fresh human remains and blood for ritual purposes.
The police Spokesperson said the following exhibits were recovered from.the scene of the crime;
a kitchen knife identified as the murder weapon, abottle filled with the victims’ blood, scooped by the suspect, an empty can of Black Bullet, used to drug the victims before the act and a spoon, used to collect the victims’ blood.
She said the victims’ bodies have been deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The statement quoted the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju assuring the public that justice will be served, and all perpetrators of the heinous crime prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
