Criminal Hideout Crushed: Enugu Demolishes Properties Tied to Suspected Ritualist and Kidnap Kingpin

 

A long-standing manhunt for the notorious suspected ritualist and kidnap kingpin, Obi Levi Obieze — also known by his alias, Levi Obu Onyeka — came to an end this week, as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) apprehended him during an attempted escape near the Seme border in Lagos State.

The Enugu State Government, in a statement issued on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, expressed its satisfaction with the arrest and extended gratitude to the officers of the NIS for their timely intervention. The suspect, who had been declared wanted in connection with the abduction of a 13-year-old girl and multiple ritual killings, was intercepted at the Gbaji checkpoint while attempting to cross into a neighboring country on a motorcycle.

Authorities believe that Obieze, a native of Umuojor village in the Ndiagu Community, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, was trying to escape justice after narrowly evading police arrest during the investigation into a series of gruesome incidents involving kidnapping and ritual murder.

According to the SSG, this arrest marks a significant step forward in the state's commitment to fighting heinous crimes. “The Enugu State government received with delight the news of the arrest of the fugitive suspected kidnap kingpin and ritualist, Levi Obieze,” Onyia stated. “This arrest has further strengthened our hands in our bid to ensure that justice is served on all the persons involved in the gory incidents of abduction, kidnapping, and ritual killings linked to the suspect.”

Law enforcement agents had earlier rescued a teenage girl abducted while walking to the farm with her father. Her rescue led police to a horrifying discovery — a shrine reportedly operated by Obieze, which concealed the decomposing bodies of two unidentified victims buried in a pit and sealed with concrete. The location, deep in his hometown of Umumba Ndiagu, became the epicenter of one of the most disturbing crime scenes in the state’s recent history.

As investigations progressed, the Enugu State Police Command arrested three individuals alleged to be Obieze’s accomplices: Uche Kingsley Agumba (33), Ilo Nweze Onyedikachi (36), and Ejike Odinwankpa (38). While these arrests provided some breakthroughs, the mastermind remained elusive until Thursday’s dramatic interception by the NIS.

The state government has moved swiftly in line with its anti-kidnapping laws to ensure that criminals do not benefit from assets acquired through illicit activities. On Tuesday, May 27, Enugu authorities carried out the demolition of Obieze’s expansive property located in his hometown, an act sanctioned under Section 315 (Second Amendment) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State.

Prof. Onyia clarified that the demolition serves both as a legal penalty and a stern warning. “As usual, the Enugu State Government has already demolished the property in his country home on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in line with Section 315... regarding property linked to kidnapping,” he confirmed.

Government officials have also highlighted the role played by vigilant residents and community-based security structures in unearthing the activities of the suspect and assisting law enforcement in their operations. The state lauded traditional rulers, town union leaders, and neighborhood watch groups for their contributions and urged them to remain proactive in reporting suspicious individuals and activities.

The administration reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward criminal activity. “This administration will not condone any form of criminality in our communities under any guise,” the statement emphasized. It also warned those harboring criminals that they would be treated as accomplices and held accountable under the law.

The government’s tough stance reflects its broader agenda to restore peace and enforce rule of law across the state. As the legal process begins for the apprehended suspects, including Obieze, public attention now shifts to how swiftly justice will be delivered in this chilling case that has shocked Enugu State to its core.