A 23-year-old man, Chiemelie Nnaji, tragically drowned during a spiritual cleansing ritual at Mmiri Ani River in Obiagu, Enugu State.

Chiemelie, known locally for roasting pork and chicken in front of a motel in Obiagu, reportedly suffered from epilepsy.

According to reports, the incident occurred on Thursday afternoon when Chiemelie’s mother, popularly known as Ezenwanyi, took him and a client, a middle-aged woman, to the river for a spiritual cleansing session.

The spiritualist was said to be preparing her son to inherit the family’s spiritual business.

Eyewitnesses stated that during the ritual, while Ezenwanyi was using a native fowl to perform the exorcism inside the chest-deep river, Chiemelie suffered an epileptic seizure and fell into the deep water.

Despite being alerted by the client, Ezenwanyi continued chanting incantations and did not assist Chiemelie as he struggled in the water.

It was the client who eventually stopped the ritual and raised an alarm, attracting neighbors who rescued Chiemelie’s body while he was reportedly still alive.

“We found Ezenwanyi chanting while the client was crying helplessly. We managed to bring him out and rushed him to the hospital,” an eyewitness said.

However, two hospitals reportedly refused to admit him, and it was at the third hospital that Chiemelie was pronounced dead.

The Enugu State Police Command, through the Ogui Police Division, has arrested the spiritualist in connection with the incident.

The police spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, had not responded to inquiries as of the time this report was filed.