TERROR AT THE RIVER: Priestess and Worshippers Abducted by Gunmen During Water Goddess Ritual in Enugu
In the quiet, verdant community of Ohebe Orba in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, a peaceful evening ritual turned into a harrowing nightmare when gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen abducted an Ezenwanyi (priestess) and three worshippers while they were performing sacred rites at the banks of the Ohebe River, a waterbody revered by locals as the dwelling place of a powerful river goddess. The chilling incident, which took place on Wednesday night, April 16, 2025, has left the community in shock and the state once again grappling with the reality of deepening insecurity.
The evening of the 16th was meant to be one of spiritual renewal. The Ezenwanyi, whose identity community members have chosen to withhold for safety, had taken three of her devout followers to the river to perform traditional rituals involving offerings of Fanta, native chalk (nzu), and incantations to honor the water goddess, whom locals believe protects their lands and ensures a fruitful farming season.
Witnesses say the group had barely begun their offerings when heavily armed men emerged from the bush, firing shots into the air. What followed was confusion, screaming, and forced compliance. The priestess and the three worshippers were rounded up, blindfolded, and taken into the forest. The sanctity of their spiritual endeavor shattered in seconds.
YOU MAY READ
Kidnappers Reportedly Kill Abducted Female Realtor, Shoot Police Officer in Delta
Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, a prominent Enugu-based media personality, was among the first to confirm the incident publicly. In a social media post, he said, “The first 4 persons were kidnapped at Ohebe River together with Ezenwanyi, who took them there to perform or do their usual water and #Fanta work and Fulani herdsmen kidnapped all of them before the water goddess. The other 4 persons went for their cashew business inside their cashew farms and they were also kidnapped.”
Indeed, on the same day, four other locals — all farmers — were kidnapped while harvesting cashew fruits in the surrounding orchards. That brought the total number of abductees to eight, leaving a community riddled with fear and confusion.
Senator Okey Ezea, who represents the Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, decried the situation in a press statement. “Kidnappers and Fulani herdsmen have taken over Enugu North Senatorial Zone including Nsukka,” he lamented. “Our people are no longer safe in their farms, in their homes, or even in sacred places where they commune with their gods.”
YOU MAY READ
Security Operatives Rescue Abducted Catholic Priest in Anambra
This abduction, among several others in recent months, underscores a worrying pattern of targeted attacks by suspected herdsmen in forested and riverine parts of Enugu North, an area long considered relatively peaceful compared to more troubled states in the Middle Belt and North West.
Insecurity in Enugu State has escalated dramatically in the last five years, with communities such as Uzo-Uwani, Igbo-Etiti, Nsukka, and now Udenu facing increasing attacks. While the exact motives behind these kidnappings remain speculative, many locals suspect economic desperation and territorial expansion as driving factors. Others believe these are politically motivated actions aimed at destabilizing local governance and traditional institutions.
Among the most disturbing aspects of this case is the setting of the abduction: the Ohebe River. In Igbo cosmology, rivers are sacred spaces, believed to be inhabited by deities known as “mmụọ mmiri.” Such spaces are treated with reverence, often approached only after ritual cleansing and with specific offerings. For many in Ohebe Orba, the fact that armed men could violate such a site points not only to growing lawlessness but also to a spiritual desecration.
YOU MAY READ
Over 250 South-East Residents Abducted Between Last December And January As Kidnappers Rake In Millions Of Naira
Elder Nnaji Okonkwo, a community leader and custodian of local traditions, described the incident as a spiritual affront. “These people not only kidnapped our Ezenwanyi and her worshippers, they defiled the river goddess. This is an abomination that must be cleansed. The land is angry,” he said.
Community members are reportedly planning a special ritual to appease the goddess, involving libations, animal sacrifices, and communal prayers. “We must ask the goddess to forgive us for what strangers have done,” said another elder, Chief Onyema Mbah.
In the days following the abductions, the kidnappers reached out to the victims’ families, demanding an initial ransom of N50 million. After intense pleading, the figure was reportedly negotiated down to N15 million. As of April 18, negotiations were still ongoing.
“We are poor farmers. Where will we find N15 million?” asked Mr. Eze Ikechukwu, whose brother was among the kidnapped cashew farmers. “They told us to bring the money in cash. No police. No soldiers. Just come quietly or else they will kill them.”
Such ransom demands have become disturbingly common in southeastern Nigeria, where kidnap-for-ransom has evolved into a lucrative criminal enterprise. The victims’ families now face the double burden of emotional trauma and financial ruin.
As expected, reactions from the authorities have been swift but largely rhetorical. The Enugu State Police Command said it has launched a manhunt for the abductors. “We are aware of the incident in Ohebe Orba. Our men are on the trail of the kidnappers. We will leave no stone unturned,” said DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the police spokesperson.
However, residents of Udenu remain skeptical. “We’ve heard these promises before,” said Mrs. Christiana Okorie, a schoolteacher. “They will come with sirens, make some noise, then go back. The kidnappers know the forest better than anyone.”
YOU MAY READ
Kidnapping on the Rise: Two Young Architects Abducted in Nteje
Community vigilante groups have also mobilized but are poorly equipped. Armed with Dane guns and machetes, they patrol the bush paths with little hope of confronting AK-47-wielding criminals.
The Enugu State government, under Governor Peter Mbah, has condemned the attack and called for calm. “We urge our people not to take laws into their hands. Government is working with security agencies to ensure the safe return of the abducted individuals,” read a statement from the governor’s office.
Yet, for many locals, government assurances are cold comfort in the face of growing insecurity.
In the aftermath of the incident, the mood in Ohebe Orba is somber and tense. Traditional festivals have been suspended. Market activities have slowed. Farmers are afraid to return to their lands. Worshippers avoid riverbanks. The community has slipped into survival mode.
Mrs. Ngozi Ezenwa, who regularly participated in the water goddess rituals, said she would never go near the river again. “How can I? We are not safe even with our gods. This land is no longer what it used to be,” she said, shaking her head.
The incident has also reignited calls for local security autonomy. Many community members now demand the creation of a state-controlled police force or at least the arming of vigilante outfits. “We can’t keep depending on Abuja to save us. We need to defend our land ourselves,” said Mr. Ejike Anozie, a youth leader.
YOU MAY READ
Kidnappers Kill APC National Director After Collecting N90 Million Ransom
Beyond the immediate security and humanitarian concerns, the abduction has raised deeper questions about the erosion of traditional beliefs and the vulnerability of indigenous religious practitioners. While Christianity and Islam dominate Nigeria’s religious landscape, millions still maintain ties to African Traditional Religion (ATR), often in secrecy due to social stigma or fear of persecution.
This incident, many say, underscores how even traditional religious practices have become targets in a rapidly destabilizing nation. “It’s no longer about religion,” said Professor Uche Nnadi, an anthropologist at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. “This is about the collapse of community life and values. When worshippers can be kidnapped during rituals, it means society itself is under attack.”
The victims — the priestess, her three followers, and the four farmers — remain in captivity, their fate hanging in the balance. Their families pray. The community watches. The goddess waits.
Across social media, calls for action have intensified. #SaveOhebeOrba and #FreeEzenwanyi are beginning to trend among advocacy groups and rights organizations. The Civil Rights Initiative of Nigeria (CRIN) issued a statement demanding that the federal government declare a state of emergency on rural kidnappings.
YOU MAY READ
Ohanaeze Gives South-East Governors 30 Days to Expel Killer Herdsmen or Face State of Emergency
“This is not just about one priestess or one village. This is a national emergency,” said CRIN Director Amaka Ejiofor. “We call on the Nigerian Army to deploy drones and special forces to comb the forests. We also urge the National Assembly to summon the Minister of Police Affairs and the NSA for answers.”
Whether or not the abducted individuals will return alive is unknown. What is clear is that the people of Enugu North are at a tipping point. Their safety, faith, culture, and livelihoods are under siege.
Until something changes — drastically and swiftly — Ohebe Orba may be remembered not for its sacred river but for the night when gunmen turned a prayer into a prison.
