A young man has reportedly died in Ugbaike, Enugu Ezike, in the Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State after being buried alive during a traditional fortification ritual conducted by a native doctor.
Reports said that the deceased, identified as Chikwado Eze, was taken by his father, Uwakwe Eze, to a native doctor simply named Onuwa for fortification before his planned travel overseas. Chikwado had secured a visa to travel abroad and returned to his village to inform his father of the good news. However, his father insisted that he must undergo a fortification ritual to ensure his success abroad.
The native doctor reportedly claimed that for the young man to be properly fortified, he needed to be buried alive for one hour and thirty minutes. Unfortunately, when Chikwado was exhumed after the stipulated time, he was found dead.
An eyewitness narrated, “Chikwado’s visa was ready, and he went to his village in Ugbaike, Igbo-Eze North LGA, to inform his father. His father insisted they visit a native doctor for fortification to guarantee his success abroad. They met Onuwa, the native doctor, who said Chikwado should be buried alive for 1 hour and 30 minutes. After that time, they exhumed him, but he was already dead.”
The deceased’s father and the native doctor have reportedly been arrested by the police. But the state police has yet not issued a statement on the incident.