A 23-year-old man, Chiemelie Nnaji, tragically lost his life during a spiritual cleansing ritual at a river in Enugu. The incident occurred Thursday afternoon at Mmiri Ani River in the Obiagu area of the state capital.

 

Chiemelie, popularly known in the neighbourhood for roasting pork and chicken in front of a local motel, was also known to suffer from epilepsy. His mother, a self-styled spiritualist known as Ezenwanyi, had taken him and a middle-aged female client to the river for what was described as an exorcism ritual. Witnesses said she was preparing her son to take over her spiritual practice.

 

During the ritual, which involved chanting and the use of a native fowl, Chiemelie reportedly suffered an epileptic seizure and slipped into the chest-deep river. Despite the client’s frantic pleas, Ezenwanyi—believed to be in a trance—allegedly ignored her son’s distress and continued chanting.

 

The female client eventually raised the alarm, drawing the attention of local residents who rushed to the scene. Bystanders managed to pull Chiemelie from the water while he was still alive and rushed him to the hospital.

 

“Two hospitals rejected him before he was finally admitted at a third one, where he was pronounced dead,” a witness said.

 

Following the incident, operatives from the Ogui Division of the Enugu Police Command reportedly arrested Ezenwanyi. However, as of the time of filing this report, police spokesman Daniel Ndukwe had not responded to requests for comment.

 

The tragic event has left the Obiagu community in shock, raising questions about the dangers of unregulated spiritual practices.