The Rivers State Police Command, on Sunday, arrested four suspects for their alleged involvement in the killing of seven-year-old twins for rituals.
The spokesperson of the state Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a press release, titled “Case Of Ritual Killing And Arrest Of Suspects, Including A Native Doctor,” dated 26 March, 2025.
It was disclosed that “the suspects were involved in a horrific case of ritual killing of two children, Chizaram Onuche and Chidinma Onuche, both 7-year-olds.”
The Rivers Police spokesperson stated that the arrest followed a report transferred from the Special Area Division, prompting operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to take swift action.
“On 23rd March 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,” it was stated.
The arrested suspects included: Aniekan Sunday Uko (male, 27 years, a native of Akwa Ibom State who is residing at 2nd Pipeline, Rukpokwu.
Aniekan was said to had lured the 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 years), a native of Cross River State, residing at Omuike, Aluu who is the girlfriend of the first suspect, Aniekan and was linked to the crime;
Kingsley Opurum (male, 43 years), a native of Etche, Rivers State, residing at 3rd Pipeline, Eneka who was implicated as the native doctor complicit in the murder of the slain children and;
Friday Silas (male, 47 years)z native of Plateau State, residing at 2nd Pipeline, Rukpokwu. The first suspect, Aniekan, claimed that he allowed him to stay at the uncompleted building where the killings took place.
Aniekan reportedly 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.
According to him, the native doctor instructed him to provide fresh human remains and blood for ritualistic purposes.
The Rivers Police stated that law enforcement officials visited the scene of the crime, documented evidence with photographs, and recovered additional exhibits.
Items retrieved from the scene of the crime included 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 bodies of the victims of the suspected ritual killing have been deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, assured that justice will be served and all perpetrators of this heinous crime will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
He further stated that investigations were 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,” the Rivers Police stated in the release.
