More than 30 bodies of suspected ritual killing victims have been discovered in the Imo River over the past year, sparking fear in the Oriendu autonomous community of Umuahia North, Abia State.
Traditional ruler HRH Eze Philip Ajomiwe revealed the alarming trend while addressing journalists after another woman’s body was found. According to him, most victims—primarily young girls—are found either naked with missing body parts or stuffed in bags. He claimed that ritualists from Imo State dump the bodies in the river at night.
Despite reports to security agencies, no arrests have been made. The community’s vigilante group has struggled to apprehend the culprits due to a lack of resources. Eze Ajomiwe has appealed to the government for urgent intervention, including equipping local security forces to tackle the growing menace.