An Onitsha-based businessman, Chikwado Eze, tragically lost his life during a ritual in Inyi, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, Enugu State.

Eze, originally from Ugbaike community, had obtained a visa for an overseas business venture and sought the help of a native doctor for fortification.

The native doctor instructed that Eze be buried alive for one and a half hours as part of the ritual. On the fateful day, Eze, accompanied by his father, Uwakwe, was buried. However, when exhumed, Eze was found weak and covered in sweat. Despite the native doctor’s efforts to revive him using incantations, Eze remained unresponsive and was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

Both Eze's father and the native doctor have been arrested by police for questioning. Uwakwe, who had been ostracized by their community for using dangerous charms in the past, denied pressuring his son into the ritual, stating that Eze had made all the arrangements himself.