The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested a popular native doctor, Levi Obieze, also known as “E de play, e de show,” who was attempting to flee the country amid allegations of abduction, kidnapping, and ritual killings in Enugu State.
Obieze, a resident of Umuojor village in Isiagu community, was apprehended by officers of the Lagos State Border Patrol Command at Gbaji checkpoint along the Badagry-Seme Road while trying to escape on a motorcycle.
Confirming the arrest on Thursday, the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, said the arrest was made possible through credible intelligence. In a statement released by the Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, the NIS said Obieze was wanted by the Enugu State Police Command and had been on the run with his four wives.
“His identity was confirmed through a National Identity Management Commission enrollment slip found in his possession. During initial questioning, he admitted to the alleged crimes,” the statement read.
Obieze is accused of kidnapping a 13-year-old girl on Monday. Reports say the girl was abducted while walking with her father to the farm by two men on a motorcycle who pretended to have a mechanical issue. While the father was distracted, one of the men seized the girl and fled.
Following the incident, local vigilante groups and the police launched a search, eventually tracking the girl’s screams to Obieze’s compound. Upon arrival, the native doctor reportedly resisted but was overpowered. The girl was rescued, and a search of the premises revealed two decomposing bodies of pregnant women dumped in soakaway pits.
The gruesome discovery sparked outrage in the community. A video circulating on social media shows residents dragging and parading Obieze naked through the streets. He was widely known in the area for his ostentatious displays of wealth and money spraying at public gatherings.
The NIS has assured the public of its continued collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the suspect is handed over and fully investigated.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to safeguarding national borders and ensuring that criminals do not escape justice,” Akinlabi said.
