Terror gripped Umueri village in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Wednesday, July 24, 2025, after the body of a pregnant nurse was found butchered and dumped in a pit near the home of her alleged killer, 32-year-old Chiemelie Oborji. The suspect had reportedly lured the victim under the guise of seeking medical help for his ailing mother.
The nurse, whose identity has yet to be officially confirmed, reportedly arrived at the suspect’s residence with her medical bag, only to be gruesomely murdered. Eyewitnesses allege that her body was discovered with vital organs removed, reinforcing fears of a ritual motive behind the killing. A viral Facebook video, shared by a local user named Iroko Ogbunike, showed villagers retrieving the bloodied corpse from a shallow pit.
Shouts of grief and outrage echoed as villagers dragged the mutilated remains from the ditch. One youth was captured on video declaring the suspect “wanted by the entire community,” vowing that Chiemelie Oborji would never find refuge again in Ogbunike. Residents have described the act as a brutal betrayal of the communal trust often extended to healthcare workers.
According to local sources, the suspect fled immediately after committing the act, triggering a manhunt by angry youths and local vigilantes. The pit where the woman’s body was found lies within proximity to Oborji’s compound, deepening suspicions that the murder was premeditated and ritualistic. Unconfirmed reports suggest that her unborn child may also have been removed.
Tension continues to escalate in Ogbunike as the community demands justice. Traditional leaders and youth groups have called on the Anambra State Government and security agencies to ensure Oborji’s swift arrest and prosecution. Many say the murder highlights a growing pattern of ritual-related crimes across southeastern Nigeria.
Attempts to reach the Anambra State Police Command have so far been unsuccessful. Calls to the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, went unanswered as of the time of this report. No official statement has been released, but pressure is mounting on law enforcement to act swiftly.
As the story spreads on social media, Nigerians nationwide are expressing outrage, with thousands demanding stiffer penalties for ritual killings and better protections for medical professionals who offer home care. The late nurse, believed to be in her second trimester, has become a symbol of growing insecurity for working women across rural communities in the state.
