Onyebuchi Ezeh, a domestic staff, has been apprehended for allegedly mutilating the genitals and other body parts of a 72-year-old woman for the purpose of performing a money ritual.
Ezeh admitted to committing the act with the assistance of some friends, following the orders of a herbalist who promised them riches in exchange for the specified body parts.
The incident reportedly took place in Umunze, Orumba North Local Government Area in Anambra, within the past week, and the elderly woman was rescued by her neighbours who took her to the hospital.
According to Miss Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the media assistant to the commissioner for women’s affairs and social welfare, the victim is currently receiving treatment at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, where the commissioner, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, paid her a visit.
Ikeanyionwu said:
“The incident was discovered after the survivor raised alarm on Thursday. One of her workers alongside two other men stampeded her in her house and cut off her genital organs including nipple, ear, fingers among others.
“The culprit by name Onyebuchi Ezeh who was later caught confessed that they were sent by a native doctor to get the needed organs of the 72-year-old woman in order to become billionaires.”
“The culprit hails from Abakaliki in Ebonyi state, and usually helps the victim in cutting palm-trees. He was said to have explained that they embarked on the act because they wanted to get rich according to the assurances of the native doctor.”
The culprit is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Anambra State Police Command in Awka, and will be presented before the Children and Gender Based Violence Magistrate Court in Awka for trial in the near future.
