The Rivers State Police Command said its men have arrested four suspects including a native doctor and a teenage girl over their alleged involvement in the murder of two siblings who were drugged and slaughtered at the Ogbodo Pipeline area of Rukpokwu in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
The police said one of the suspects, 27-year-old Aniekan Uko, lured the children to a location where he drugged them and subsequently slaughtered the duo before draining their blood.
Speaking to our correspondent on the incident, a lawyer who is helping the police investigation, Linda Ojims, said the children were returning from church when the prime suspect, (Uko) intercepted them and lured them into an uncompleted building,
Ojims alleged that the suspect might have hypnotised the children to follow him, after which he drugged them, and had carnal knowledge of them before butchering them.
She stated, “The children were coming back from church. So, along the line, the suspect I don’t know whether he hypnotised or lured them, took them to an uncompleted building. He then induced the drink he gave to them. The children slept, he raped and murdered them.”
Continuing, the police in a statement on Wednesday said operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit swiftly arrested the prime suspect and his accomplices on March 23, 2025, describing the incident as ‘horrific’.
The PPRO, Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, disclosed that during interrogation, Aniekan confessed to the crime, saying he became involved in the ritual killing after visiting the native doctor and witnessing him perform similar rituals for others in exchange for wealth.
She said Aniekan (prime suspect) further revealed that the native doctor instructed him to provide fresh human remains and blood for ritualistic purposes.
The statement partly reads, “The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform the public of the arrest of suspects involved in a horrific case of ritual killing of two children, Chizaram Onuche and Chidinma Onuche, both seven-year-olds.
“This follows a report transferred from the Special Area Division, prompting operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to take swift action.
“On March 23, 2025, at approximately 9 am, operatives arrested a native doctor and other individuals involved in the heinous crime. During the operation, law enforcement officers recovered key evidence, including a bottle containing the drained blood of the victims.”
The state police image maker gave the names of the suspects as “Aniekan Sunday Uko (Male, 27 years), a native of Akwa Ibom, residing at 2nd Pipeline, Rukpokwu. He lured victims to his location, drugged them using a drink known as Black Bullet as a sedative, and subsequently slaughtered them, collecting their blood in a bottle.
“Luis John Uwelemele, (female, 19), a native of Cross River State, residing at Omuike, Aluu. She is the girlfriend of the first suspect. Aniekan is linked to the crime.
“Kingsley Opurum (Male, 43): A native of Etche, Rivers State, residing at 3rd Pipeline, Eneka. He has been implicated as the native doctor complicit in the murder of the deceased.
“Friday Silas (Male, 47), a native of Plateau State, residing at 2nd Pipeline, Rukpokwu. The first suspect claimed that he allowed him to stay at the uncompleted building where the killings took place.”
The statement added, “Aniekan confessed that he became involved in the ritual killing after visiting the native doctor and witnessing him perform similar rituals for others in exchange for wealth. The native doctor instructed him to provide fresh human remains and blood for ritualistic purposes.
“Law enforcement officials visited the scene of the crime, documented evidence with photographs, and recovered additional exhibits.”
The items retrieved by the police according to the statement were, ‘a kitchen knife identified as the murder weapon, a bottle filled with the victims’ blood, scooped by the suspect, an empty can of Black Bullet, used to drug the victims before the act and a spoon, used to collect the victims’ blood.
“The deceased victims’ bodies have been deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
“The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, assures the public that justice will be served, and all perpetrators of the heinous crime will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Investigations are ongoing to uncover further details and possible accomplices.
“We urge residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station. The safety and security of all citizens remain our top priority.”
Meanwhile, the lawyer, Linda Ojims, has commended the police for the arrest of the suspects and urged for a thorough prosecution of the matter to ensure justice for the deceased.
She stated, “I’m also helping investigate the matter. I know that the police are investigating it. All I expect from them (the police) is to do the needful because this matter is in the public interest and justice.
“If these perpetrators were not caught we don’t even know what would have happened next. It could have been any other person I know. So I’m looking up to the police to do a diligent job because justice for one is justice for all”
“The children need justice because they didn’t do anything wrong. So the police should, after the investigation, prepare their findings and file the matter to court which we are also ready to follow up on. And I pray that they also help in sanitising the society through this medium.”
