A man identified as Obi Levi Obieze, also known by the aliases Levi Obu Onyeka, “Ezeani,” and “E-Dey-Play-E-Dey-Show,” has been captured by operatives of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) while allegedly attempting to escape the country.

The suspect, a well-known native doctor from Umuojor village in the Isiagu community of Enugu State, was wanted in connection with kidnapping and ritual murder cases.

Obieze was arrested at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Badagry-Seme border route in Lagos while trying to flee Nigeria on a motorcycle.

The Nigeria Police Force had earlier declared him wanted following investigations into the abduction of a 13-year-old girl, who was reportedly kidnapped while walking with her father to their farm.

She was later rescued by police operatives from a shrine allegedly linked to Obieze.

Confirming the arrest, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Immigration Service, ACI AS Akinlabi, said in a statement on Thursday that Obieze’s identity was verified through an enrollment slip from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) found on him.

“He is currently in custody and his identity has been confirmed through a National Identity Management Commission enrollment slip found in his possession. During the initial questioning, he admitted to the alleged crimes,” Akinlabi said.

The immigration spokesperson also noted that the suspect is being held in coordination with the Nigeria Police Force, who will take over the investigation.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service is collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force for the suspect’s handover and further investigation while reaffirming its commitment to border security,” he added.

In a related development, the Enugu State Police Command earlier apprehended three individuals; Uche Kingsley Agumba (33), Ilo Nweze Onyedikachi (36), and Ejike Odinwankpa (38)—in connection with the same kidnapping incident.

Authorities also discovered two decomposing corpses buried in a sealed pit on Obieze’s property, further linking him to the alleged ritual killings.

Police had described Obieze as a known traditionalist in his community and urged the public to assist with information regarding his whereabouts, until his eventual capture.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has revealed that the 2024 flooding in Enugu State led to the loss of 25 lives, injured 166 people, and directly impacted 9,352 households.

This was disclosed on Wednesday in Enugu by the Director General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, during a stakeholders’ engagement event on the National Disaster Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) 2025.

Themed “Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Preparedness and Response: Taking Disaster Risk Management to the Grassroots to Save Lives, Restore Normalcy and Build Communal Resilience Across Nigeria,” the session brought together emergency management stakeholders from across the state.

Represented by Dr Evans Ugoh, a NEMA Director, Umar reported that a total of 55,094 individuals were affected by the flooding, with 3,001 households displaced, resulting in significant losses to families and communities.

Speaking on the purpose of the engagement, Umar explained that the initiative was meant to sensitize state and local government officials, as well as emergency responders, about seasonal climate forecasts for 2025.

She noted the predictions were based on assessments from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

“This is with a view to reminding the stakeholders about their responsibilities in flood disaster management. We all know the impacts of flood in the society, and actions to be taking to prevent and mitigate the impacts as stakeholders in disaster management,” she said.

Umar added that NEMA had already taken proactive steps.

“NEMA have developed climate related risk implications, preparedness, mitigation and response actions to reduce the would-be impacts of the 2025 floods, based on the predictions by NIMET and NIHSA.”

“The Agency have embarked on various activities aimed at preventing and mitigating the expected impacts of the disaster. The Agency has written to state governors informing them of the outcome of the 2025 climate predictions in their states,” she said.

In response, Mrs Chinasa Mbah, Director of the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said her agency had already informed the 17 local government chairmen of the forecast and outlined their responsibilities.

“We are ready to collaborate with various stakeholders and agencies to see that our people are protected while losses are mitigated to the barest minimum,” she added.

As part of the preparation, she said SEMA would carry out sensitization campaigns and closely monitor drainage systems and waterways in flood-prone areas.

Also speaking at the event, Dr Elijah Willie, Commandant of the NSCDC Enugu State Command, assured stakeholders of the Corps’ readiness to respond swiftly to emergencies.

Represented by Deputy Corps Commandant Mr Victor Duruegbesonu, he stated:

“NEMA, SEMA and disaster victims could reach the corps offices at local government and divisional office to get ‘rapid assistance.’

Meanwhile, Mr Emeka Oko, State Coordinator of the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC), expressed gratitude to NEMA, SEMA, and other support agencies including the Nigerian Red Cross, Federal Fire Service, and security services.

“LEMC is ready to take the flood sensitisation to communities and the grassroots to ensure that negative incidents that occurred in 2024 do not repeat itself,” Oko said.

In a related sensitisation exercise held at Amechi Idodo community in Nkanu East Local Government Area, NEMA’s Director General urged residents to adopt proper environmental practices, especially clearing drainages and waterways.

In his response, Igwe Hyacinth Edeani, the Traditional Ruler of the community and Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers in Nkanu East LGA, gave his assurance:

“As a community we are grantful to NEMA and SEMA assistance for some years now. We are joining hands with these agencies to do everything humanly possible to ensure no negative flood development take place here,” he said.

He further pledged to support the activities of the Community Flood Response Committee, recently inaugurated by NEMA.

“I would ensure that the Community Flood Response Committee inaugurated by NEMA would be guided to function optimally to help in flood mitigation,” Edeani promised.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted into evidence three video clips in the ongoing terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), including a clip showing him inspecting a Radio Biafra transmitter.

The transmitter, identified as “Tram 50L”, was reportedly smuggled into Nigeria and kept in Ubuluisiuzor, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where Kanu was seen conducting an inspection.

This development emerged during the resumed hearing of the trial-within-trial, where Kanu claimed that the statements he made in October and November 2015 were obtained under duress.

During the session, the third prosecution witness, identified as Mr CCC, an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS), rejected the accusation that Kanu was coerced or threatened with solitary confinement to extract confessions.

The defendant had alleged that a DSS operative named Mr Brown threatened him with isolation in a “dungeon,” but the witness countered the claim:

“The names of the officers who took part in the interview are James, Ibrahim, and Collins,” he said, adding, “with no Mr Brown among them.”

He further testified that Kanu was treated with respect and dignity:

“The defendant was given presidential treatment,” he stated, expressing disbelief over the suggestion that force or intimidation was used to elicit statements.

Kanu’s alleged confessions included inflammatory remarks directed at former Nigerian presidents and public figures:

The DSS operative noted that Kanu referred to former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari in offensive terms and accused Senator Rochas Okorocha of “Islamising” his people.

These remarks, the witness said, were made during an interview Kanu granted to the US-based platform Sahara Reporters, where he also referred to Nigeria as a “zoo.”

The prosecution submitted three written statements Kanu made at DSS headquarters on October 23, 24, and November 4, 2015, as well as video recordings of his oral statements from October 21 and 23.

Trial-Within-Trial on Statement Admissibility

Presiding Judge Justice James Omotosho explained the necessity of the current proceedings:

“It is law that whenever an issue of involuntariness is raised, the Evidence Act and the law require that an order for trial within trial be made to determine whether a statement was taken under duress or otherwise.”

He added:

“Establishing duress would, therefore, make the statement in contention inadmissible.”

In the three video recordings presented in court, Kanu is seen admitting:

He is “the founder and director of Radio Biafra,” and he claimed that the Biafra struggle receives international support:

“The Biafra cause enjoys funding across the globe from all those who believe in the ideals of the secessionist agenda,” Kanu said, adding that IPOB has representatives in “over 80 countries.”

Kanu also testified during the trial-within-trial, alleging that he was assaulted during his arrest in Lagos in 2015:

“I was struck by a DSS operative when I was picked up in Lagos,” he said, though he added that “the same operative later apologised on their way to the airport en route to Abuja.”

Justice Omotosho adjourned the hearing to Thursday, May 29, when the court is expected to continue proceedings and deliver a ruling on the admissibility of the disputed statements.