An Onitsha-based businessman, Chikwado Eze, has lost his life during a fortification ritual in Inyi, a community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, Enugu State.
Eze, originally from Ugbaike community, had reportedly secured a visa for an overseas business trip and was allegedly convinced by his father to fortify himself before embarking on the foreign trip.
He was then taken to a native doctor who put him through a series of ritual. A major part of the ritual was for Eze to be buried alive for one and a half hours.
He was told that he would come out fortified after the specified time. Eze was buried in the presence of his father, Uwakwe.
However, when he was exhumed, instead of being fortified, Eze was drenched in sweat and unresponsive.
The native doctor reportedly reeled off a series of incantations, all to no avail, leading them to rush Eze to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The police were called in and they arrested both the father and the native doctor for interrogation.
Uwakwe reportedly had a bad reputation in the community for indulging in dangerous fetish practices.
It was reported that he was previously ostracized by the Ugbaike community for involvement in such unacceptable practices.
Uwakwe however denied forcing his son into the ritual, stating that Eze had already prepared everything before inviting him.
