“They murdered him and the motorcycle rider and dumped their bodies in a soakaway pit by the shrine.”
The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old herbalist and his elder brother for the alleged kidnapping and murder of two men, whose bodies were later discovered in a soakaway pit by the herbalist’s shrine.
The suspects, herbalist Amechi Okwuokenye, 20, and his brother, Smart Okwuokenye, 26, were arrested following an investigation into the disappearance of 22-year-old Friday Liberty.
In a press release issued Sunday, October 26, 2025, Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe stated that the victim, Liberty, was reported to have visited the herbalist’s shrine in Owa-Alidima, Ika North East LGA, on September 30, but never returned.
According to the report, Liberty’s family began a frantic search after he went missing. The victim’s girlfriend informed the family that she had overheard a conversation involving Liberty and the herbalist, prompting them to contact Amechi.
The herbalist initially denied seeing Liberty but “promised to do some spiritual incantations so their brother could return alive.” After the family spent money on the failed rituals, they reported the case to the Agbor Area command on October 14.
Detectives tracing Liberty’s last-known movements discovered his last contact was with the same herbalist who claimed ignorance of his whereabouts.
“Surveillance was laid around his shrine,” SP Edafe stated. Police arrested the 20-year-old herbalist on October 23, finding him “hiding inside a refrigerator” at the shrine.
During interrogation, Amechi confessed, stating that he and his brother, Smart, had kidnapped both Liberty and the motorcycle rider, identified as Isioma Ugbeje, who had brought him to the shrine.
The herbalist allegedly told police that Liberty was a long-time customer who frequented his shrine for charms “to tie clients” (hypnotise them to give him money). According to the confession, his elder brother Smart needed money and convinced Amechi to lure a wealthy client for a ransom.
The suspects reportedly demanded a N10 million ransom. “When they noticed that the plan was not working, they murdered him and the motorcycle rider and dumped their bodies in a soakaway pit by the shrine,” Edafe said.
The remains of both victims have been evacuated and taken to the mortuary for autopsy.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, assured the public that the command will ensure justice is served in the case. Both suspects remain in custody.
