THE arrest of a self-proclaimed native doctor and alleged ritualist, Onyeka Obu, has ripped through the veneer of normalcy in Enugu State, exposing what appears to be a deeply entrenched web of cultism, ritual killings, and political complicity.
Recall that angry residents were said to have discovered victims buried alive in a soakaway within his compound, including pregnant women and children. Civil Society Organisations and insiders within the security services are raising the alarm over the disturbing speed at which Obu’s shrine was demolished, less than 24 hours after its discovery, despite the lack of a forensic investigation.
An official with the Civil Liberties Forum, Mr. Chijioke Mbah, asked, “Why the rush? The scene should have been preserved for forensic investigation. Destroying it so quickly suggests a cover-up.”
A police officer familiar with the case, who spoke anonymously, confirmed to journalists that the demolition order came from the state level and not the police. “We hadn’t even completed documenting the scene. Forensics was yet to arrive. The next morning, bulldozers were already at work,” the officer stated.
Further investigations led to the arrest of a local barber who reportedly lured the abducted girl to Obu’s shrine. During interrogation, he confessed to being part of a cult known as The White Club or The Kingdom of Progress, with Obu identified as the group’s grandmaster.
Initiation into the cult allegedly required a fee of ₦250,000 and the offering of human blood.
“I wanted to exit. But they told me I had to bring a human life, pay one million naira, or be killed. I had no choice because I didn’t even have one million on me. So they told me to bring the virgin girl,” the barber reportedly said.
Among those now under investigation is Uche Kingsley, also known as Lyon King or Uche Agumba, a well-known social media personality who built a large following through religious messages and the sale of “anointed” products.
