In a significant breakthrough in the fight against crime, officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have apprehended a wanted native doctor and alleged ritualist, Obi Obieze, popularly known as Obu Onyeka. The arrest was made at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Badagry-Seme Expressway on Wednesday, as Obieze attempted to escape the country.
According to eyewitness accounts reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Obieze was riding on a commercial Bajaj motorcycle en route to the Seme border when he was intercepted. The operatives of the NIS Lagos State Border Patrol Command spotted and arrested him around 2:00 p.m., just before he could slip across Nigeria’s western frontier.
Sources reveal that Obieze had fled his home in Umuojor village, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, shortly after being declared wanted. His escape reportedly began with a night bus journey to Mile 2 in Lagos, where he arrived around 10:00 a.m. on the same day. From there, he boarded a commercial vehicle to Badagry Roundabout and later hired a motorcyclist to ferry him to the Seme border.
The turning point came just past the Gbaji checkpoint. While the motorcycle initially passed unnoticed, an eagle-eyed officer recognized Obieze and ordered the rider to stop. Sensing danger, the suspect tried to flee but was promptly overpowered and arrested by the alert immigration officers. He was immediately taken into custody at the NIS command office in Lagos, where he was held in a cell pending further action.
Confirming the development, the Comptroller General of the NIS, Kemi Nandap, issued a statement through the Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, in Abuja on Thursday. She disclosed that the suspect had been declared wanted by the Enugu State Police Command over his alleged involvement in a recent child abduction case.
Nandap stated that Obieze, a traditional spiritual practitioner, was implicated in the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl on Tuesday, May 27. The girl was reportedly seized by three men while walking to the farm with her father. Following a swift response from the Nigeria Police Force, the girl was rescued from a shrine believed to be operated by Obieze.
The NIS boss disclosed that Obieze was carrying a National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) enrolment slip, which served to confirm his identity during the arrest. During preliminary interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to the crime.
Nandap commended the swift action of her officers and emphasized that the Immigration Service remains committed to supporting law enforcement agencies in combating criminal activities, especially those involving border security.
She added that the NIS was already liaising with the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that Obieze is properly handed over for a full investigation and prosecution. “Our service is determined to strengthen border control and enhance national security by preventing criminals from exploiting our exit points,” Nandap stated.
The arrest of Obieze underscores the crucial role of inter-agency cooperation in tackling security threats. As investigations continue, both the NIS and the police have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring justice is served in this high-profile case.
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