Native Doctor, Brother Arrested for Allegedly Killing Client and Okada Rider, Dumping Bodies in Septic Tank in Delta

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old native doctor, Amechi Okwuokenye, and his 26-year-old elder brother, Smart Okwuokenye, over the alleged kidnapping and murder of a client, Liberty Friday, and a motorcycle rider, Isioma Ugbeje, in Owa-Alidima community, Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State.

The suspects reportedly lured their victim, Liberty Friday, to Amechi’s shrine under the guise of a spiritual consultation, before abducting him and demanding a ₦10 million ransom. When the ransom failed, they allegedly murdered him and the motorcycle rider who had conveyed him to the shrine.

According to multiple reports, including Channels TV, Guardian Nigeria, and P.M. Express, the tragic incident unfolded between late September and October 2025. Liberty Friday was last seen on September 30, 2025, after visiting the native doctor’s shrine for a regular consultation. His disappearance sparked concern among his family and community.

When Liberty failed to return home, his family embarked on a frantic search. Their worry deepened after several days without success. Suspicion grew when his girlfriend recalled overhearing a conversation linking her late lover to the herbalist. Acting on this information, the family approached Amechi Okwuokenye for answers.

Shockingly, the suspect denied knowing the victim’s whereabouts and even offered to perform “spiritual incantations” to locate him, collecting money from the grieving family in the process.

Frustrated and unconvinced, the family filed a petition at the Agbor Area Police Command on October 14, 2025. The police launched an intelligence-led investigation, placing the suspect’s shrine under surveillance for several days.

After days of monitoring, operatives stormed the shrine on October 23, 2025, arresting Amechi Okwuokenye while he was reportedly hiding inside a refrigerator. Upon interrogation, he confessed to conspiring with his brother, Smart Okwuokenye, to kidnap and kill the victims.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe, the suspects admitted that they kidnapped Liberty Friday and the okada rider after plans to extort ₦10 million failed. They then killed both men and dumped their decomposing bodies in a septic tank beside the shrine.

SP Edafe said:

“Upon arrest, the herbalist confessed that he and his brother kidnapped Liberty Friday and the motorcycle rider, Isioma Ugbeje. He revealed that Friday was his long-time client who frequently visited him for charms. When his brother approached him for money, they decided to lure Liberty and demand ransom. When the plan failed, they murdered both victims and dumped their remains in a septic pit beside the shrine.”

The police later recovered the decomposing bodies of the two victims from the septic tank. The remains were evacuated and deposited at the mortuary for autopsy, while both suspects remain in custody.

SP Edafe confirmed that the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigations, adding that the offense carries a life imprisonment or death sentence under Nigerian law.

The community of Owa-Alidima has been thrown into mourning and disbelief over the incident. Residents described Amechi as a “quiet young man” who was known locally for offering traditional healing and fortune services.

“This is shocking. We never imagined he could do such a thing,” said one resident who spoke anonymously.

The case has also sparked renewed debate about the rising cases of ritual killings and fake spiritual practices in Nigeria. Community leaders have called on the police and local authorities to intensify efforts to regulate traditional healing practices and monitor suspicious shrines.