Operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service have arrested a popular native doctor, Levi Obieze, also known as ‘E de play, e de show.’
Obieze is wanted by the Enugu State Police Command for alleged involvement in abduction, kidnapping, and ritual killings.
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, on Thursday confirmed the arrest in a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, titled ‘Nigeria Immigration Service confirms arrest of notorious crime suspect, Obi Levi Obieze.’
“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, a resident of Umuojor village in Isiagu Community, Enugu State, and a known native doctor, is alleged to have been involved in the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl on Tuesday.
According to reports, the community was thrown into panic on Monday following the discovery of two decomposing bodies of pregnant women in the soakaway pit of a native doctor.
The discovery was linked to the kidnapping of the teenager days earlier as she walked with her father to the farm.
Reports say two men on a motorcycle abducted the girl after they feigned a technical fault by the roadside.
“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.
Local vigilante groups and the police began searching for the missing girl after her father raised the alarm.
Residents reported hearing screams from a bush near Obieze’s compound.
The search party then approached the premises, where the native doctor reportedly tried to stop them.
However, the vigilante groups overwhelmed him, foraged through the compound, and successfully rescued the abducted girl.
Further search revealed two decomposing corpses of pregnant women in separate soakaway pits on the premises, triggering an uproar in the community.
In a video shared on social media, community members were seen dragging and parading Obieze naked.
Popular for his flamboyant displays of wealth and habitual money spraying at public events, the native doctor was reportedly on the run along with his four wives before his eventual capture.
Akinlabi revealed 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, reaffirming its commitment to border security, says it is collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force for the suspect’s handover and further investigation.
