By Pascal Ibe

Claim

An X user, @dipoaina1, claimed that the investigation task force identified more than 500 skulls and body parts in the residence of an Enugu native doctor.

Verdict

This claim is FALSE. Reports confirmed last week that dead bodies of victims of the alleged ritual killings by the Enugu native doctor were found in a sewage pit at his house. However, no exact number was disclosed in the reports.

Full Text

The word “ritual” in the English Language refers to a succession of actions that is constant in pattern of occurrence. Rituals are regarded as integral parts of all religions and cultures all over the world. In Nigeria, rituals are apposite to traditional means of worship.

There is a type of ritual regarded as “Money Ritual” – a term synonymous with certain traditional/cultural activities allegedly carried out with the expectation that it will improve the financial fortunes of the person on whose behalf or for whom it was carried out. Recently, usage of the term “money ritual” has been linked with deprecated and heinous activities perpetrated in pursuit of wealth through witchcraft, black magic, voodoos, juju, charms, etc.

Colloquially to an average Nigerian, the term denotes unconscionable conduct that sometimes involves taking human lives, perpetrated in pursuit of wealth. Many frustrated online scammers, celebrated fraudsters, layabouts, and other desperadoes are now patronizing self-acclaimed experts to improve their financial fortunes.

Last week, some vigilante operatives busted a native doctor, Levi Obieze who allegedly buried several people alive in a sewage pit for a ritual at Umumba Ndiagu, a community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Regarding this, an X user, @dipoaina1 has claimed that the investigation task force identified more than 500 skulls and body parts in the residence of an Enugu native doctor.

The post of the X with the attached image of the native doctor reads, “The investigation task force has identified more than 500 skulls and body parts.

“May God help this nation. 👏🏾🥹

The post has already generated over 300k views and more than 2.2k likes, according to X analytics.

Verification

A credible publication by Premium Times a few days ago confirmed that many dead bodies were found in a sewage pit located at the native doctor’s ongoing building site near his residence. The report stated that the body of a pregnant woman was among several bodies found in the pit owned by the native doctor.

However, no exact number was disclosed in the report. There’s no credible information anywhere that corroborates this claim that 500 human skulls and body parts were found there.

Residents told PREMIUM TIMES that the angry youths, upon the discovery, set ablaze the native doctor’s apartment and his vehicles.

“The dead bodies found in Ezeani’s soakaway (sewage pit) clearly show he had been a ritualist, not a native doctor,” Emeka Ozougwu, a resident said

In another report by Punch online, the Enugu State Government demolished multi-story buildings belonging to the billionaire native doctor.

According to eyewitnesses, the villagers had taken the law into their own hands, and the government subsequently demolished the buildings.

Conclusion

Like the others, the claim that over 500 human skulls and body parts were found in the sewage pit owned by the native doctor is FALSE.