EXTRA: Herbalist ‘shoots client dead’ while testing bulletproof charm in Enugu

The police command in Enugu says it has arrested one Odoh Emmanuel, a 23-year-old herbalist, over the alleged murder of Onunze Benedict, a client, in Ikem, Isi-Uzo LGA of the state.

Emmanuel allegedly shot dead Benedict while trying to test the potency of a gunshot protection charm he made in his shrine.

Daniel Ndukwe, Enugu police spokesperson, in a statement on Tuesday, said the herbalist fabricated the single-barreled gun which he allegedly used to kill the deceased.

“On 16/11/2022 at about 11.pm, Police Operatives serving in Isi-Uzo Police Division of the Command, arrested Odoh Emmanuel (male and a native doctor) aged 23, of Umuaram village in Ikem community of Isi-Uzo LGA, for shooting and murdering his adult male client, one Onunze Benedict, of Eha-Amufu community in the same LGA,” the statement reads.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect confessed to having used a locally-fabricated single-barreled gun to shoot and murder the said victim in his shrine at the mentioned location, while testing the gunshot protection charm he had prepared for him.

“The gun has been recovered, while further investigation is ongoing at the Homicide Section of the state CID Enugu.”

In another development, the police spokesperson said five male suspects were arrested on November 12 following credible information and have been arraigned in court.

The suspects — Everest Ayokalam aged 48, Anayo Akakem aged 33, Iwuanyanwu Kelechi aged 32, Uchenna Iwuoha aged 47, and Gospel Chimankpa Nnorom aged 32 — were said to have been involved in conspiracy, armed robbery, abduction and attempted murder.

“The suspects and others at large, armed with machetes and other weapons, had on 09/11/2022 at about 3.am, abducted at Umuhu in Isi-Uzo LGA (a border community between Enugu and Ebonyi States), the driver and conductor of a Sino Truck, said to be loaded with 900 bags of cement and en-route Abakaliki, Ebonyi State,” the statement reads.

“They took them to the forest, beat up and tied them to a tree, and thereafter made away with the truck and bags of cement therein. The suspects confessed to the crime, while the truck was recovered alongside 789 bags of the cement from the warehouse of Everest Ayokalam (the receiver of the robbed exhibits).”