By Sophia Afolabi

A 23-year-old man, Chiemelie Nnaji, has tragically lost his life during a spiritual cleansing session at Mmiri Ani River in the Obiagu area of Enugu State.

Chiemelie, popularly known in the neighborhood for his pork and chicken roasting business outside a local motel, was reportedly undergoing a ritual performed by his mother, a well-known spiritualist in the community, identified as “Ezenwanyi.”

According to eyewitness accounts, the ritual was part of preparations for Chiemelie to inherit his mother’s spiritual practice. The session, which also involved a female client, took a fatal turn when the young man, who reportedly suffered from epilepsy, suffered a seizure and fell into deeper waters.

Witnesses say that while Ezenwanyi was in the river performing an exorcism with a native fowl, her son began to struggle in the water. Despite the client’s desperate pleas, the spiritualist allegedly continued chanting incantations without offering assistance.

It was the unnamed client who eventually halted the ritual and raised an alarm. Neighbors responded swiftly, pulling Chiemelie from the water. According to those present, he was still alive at the time of rescue.

“We found Ezenwanyi chanting while the client was crying helplessly. We managed to bring him out and rushed him to the hospital,” an eyewitness told reporters.

Tragically, two nearby hospitals allegedly refused to admit the young man. He was only taken in at a third facility, where he was pronounced dead.

The Enugu State Police Command, through the Ogui Police Division, has since arrested the spiritualist in connection with the incident. As of the time of filing this report, police spokesperson Daniel Ndukwe had not issued an official statement.

The incident has sparked outrage in the local community, with many calling for stricter oversight of unregulated spiritual practices and greater awareness around epilepsy-related emergencies.