A tragic scene unfolded on Thursday afternoon in the Obiagu area of Enugu when a 23-year-old man, Chiemelie Nnaji, drowned during a spiritual cleansing ritual led by his mother at a local river known as Mmiri Ani.
The deceased, who was popular in the community for roasting pork and chicken outside a nearby motel, was undergoing training to become a spiritualist under the guidance of his mother, widely known as Ezenwanyi.
According to community sources, Chiemelie had a history of epilepsy and was known in the neighbourhood for his health condition. His mother, however, was preparing him to take over her spiritual healing practice, which included rituals like exorcisms and river cleansing.
On the day of the incident, Ezenwanyi took Chiemelie and a middle-aged female client to Mmiri Ani for a spiritual cleansing session. Witnesses said the ritual involved chanting and the use of a native fowl as part of the exorcism process.
Trouble started when Chiemelie reportedly had an epileptic seizure and collapsed into the river, which was said to be chest-deep. Despite warnings and pleas from the client, Ezenwanyi—who claimed to be in a spiritual trance—continued with her chants and did not attempt to rescue her son.
“The woman just stood there, saying things in tongues. The client was screaming and asking her to help, but she didn’t stop,” said an eyewitness who arrived at the scene shortly after the alarm was raised.
The panicked client eventually halted the ritual and alerted nearby residents, who rushed to the scene and managed to pull Chiemelie from the water. At that point, he was still alive, but unresponsive.
“He was breathing faintly when we brought him out. We rushed him to the hospital, but two different hospitals rejected him,” a source said. “It was the third hospital that confirmed he was dead.”
The incident has shocked the Obiagu community and raised concerns about the growing trend of unregulated spiritual practices, particularly those involving vulnerable individuals.
Following the tragedy, operatives from the Enugu State Police Command, Ogui Division, arrived at the scene and arrested Ezenwanyi. She is currently in police custody while investigations are ongoing.
Police have not yet released an official statement, but a senior officer who spoke off the record confirmed the arrest and said the matter would be thoroughly investigated to determine whether there was negligence or criminal intent.
Meanwhile, residents are demanding stricter oversight of traditional spiritual practices in the state. “This is a very painful and avoidable death,” said a community leader. “If someone has a medical condition like epilepsy, they should be getting treatment in a hospital, not thrown into a river in the name of cleansing.”
This incident adds to a growing number of similar tragedies in Nigeria where spiritual or religious rituals have led to injury or death, often involving people with underlying health conditions.
As the family mourns and the community grapples with the shocking event, many are calling for better public education on epilepsy and stronger regulation of spiritual healers and exorcists.
The remains of Chiemelie Nnaji have been deposited at a local mortuary, and police say an autopsy will be conducted as part of their investigation.