Police have arrested a young man who allegedly poisoned four family members to death in September as part of a traditional money ritual known as “Okeite” in Nigeria’s southeastern city of Nsukka, authorities confirmed Thursday.
The suspect allegedly killed his mother, grandmother, sister, and his sister’s child through food poisoning after consulting a native doctor who promised wealth through the ritual, according to local accounts. A nine-year-old child who also ate the poisoned food survived the attack.
The arrest came Tuesday after local residents paraded the suspect and forced him to seek forgiveness at his mother’s grave. He was then handed over to police and is being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Enugu.
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) called for a broader investigation, saying the suspect “did not act alone.” According to Dr. Leo Igwe, the organization’s director, the man was allegedly lured into the scheme by a friend who took him to a native doctor in Nsukka’s Agbani area.
“The Okeite money ritual is a scam that some self-styled native doctors and diviners carry out,” Igwe said in a statement. “The belief is that people could become rich through magical means after performing certain rituals using Ite (pots).” He explained that practitioners demand large payments and often instruct followers to commit murder or other crimes.
AfAW pledged to work with local contacts to support the surviving child while pressing police to investigate all involved, including the native doctor. The organization urged the public to reject such ritual practices and “embrace evidence-based means of earning money.”
Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer Daniel Ndukwe was unavailable for comment.
