Police Nab Native Doctor, 3 Others for Alleged Killing of Twins for Rituals
Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested a native doctor, Kingsley Opurum, and three others for the alleged ritual killing of a set of twins in Rukpokwu Community, Obio/Akpor local government area of the state.
The victims, 7-year-old Chizaram Onuche and Chidinma Onuche, were reportedly killed by the suspects for ritual purposes. Opurum, a 43-year-old native doctor, was arrested alongside his girlfriend, 19-year-old Luis John Uwelemele, and two other suspects: Kingsley Opurum, 43, and Friday Silas, 47.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, issued a statement confirming the arrests, which followed a report from the Special Area Division in Rumuodomaya. The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command took swift action, leading to the arrest of the suspects.
According to the PPRO, Opurum lured the two children to his location, drugged them with a sedative drink called “Black Bullet,” and then slaughtered them, collecting their blood in a bottle for ritual purposes. The bodies of the murdered children have been deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The police also recovered key evidence during the operation, including a bottle containing the victims’ drained blood.
The suspects arrested were identified as Aniekan, 27, a native of Akwa Ibom; Uwelemele, a native of Cross River State; Opurum, a native of Etche in Rivers State; and Silas, a native of Plateau State. Aniekan reportedly confessed to his involvement after visiting the native doctor and witnessing similar rituals conducted in exchange for wealth. The native doctor instructed him to bring fresh human remains and blood for ritualistic purposes.
Items recovered from the scene included a kitchen knife identified as the murder weapon, an empty can of “Black Bullet” used to drug the children, and a spoon used to collect their blood.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, assured that justice would be served in the case and urged residents to remain vigilant, reporting any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
