OPERATIVES of the Nigeria Immigration Service have arrested Levi Obieze, a native doctor popularly known as ‘E de play, e de show,’ who is wanted by the Enugu State Police Command over allegations of abduction, kidnapping, and ritual killings.
The arrest took place at the Gbaji checkpoint along Badagry-Seme Road, Lagos State, where Obieze was caught attempting to flee the country on a motorcycle.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) confirmed the arrest on Thursday through a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi.
“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, is accused of involvement in the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl.
According to reports, the community was thrown into alarm after the discovery of two decomposing bodies of pregnant women in soakaway pits on the native doctor’s compound. The incident occurred days after the teenager was abducted while walking with her father to a farm.
Sources told this newspaper that two men on a motorcycle stopped the girl and her father by pretending their motorcycle had developed a fault.
“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,” the source said.
Following the alarm raised by the girl’s father, local vigilante groups and the police launched a search. Community members reportedly heard screams coming from a bush near Obieze’s compound.
When the search party approached the premises, the native doctor attempted to stop them, but vigilantes overwhelmed him and found the abducted girl inside. Their search also uncovered the two decomposing bodies, sparking outrage in the community.
A video circulating on social media showed community members dragging and parading Obieze naked.
The native doctor, known for his flamboyant display of wealth and frequent money spraying at public events, had reportedly been on the run with his four wives before his arrest.
