On November 9, 2000, Prophet Edward Onyebuchi Okeke popularly known as Prophet Eddie Nawgu was extrajudicially executed by Bakassi Boys at the Ochanja Market roundabout in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Okeke, 43, was the founder of the Anioma Healing Centre in Nawgu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State.
His wife, Joyce Okeke and Human Rights Watch, disclosed that the Bakassi Boys stormed his home in Nawgu at about 4:00 a.m. on November 4, 2000.
He was arrested alongside his 80-year-old father and his elder brother, John Okeke, and taken to the Bakassi Boys headquarters, known as the “White House” in Onitsha.
At the White House, Okeke was detained, interrogated and tortured. The Bakassi Boys accused him of a catalogue of crimes, including assault, extortion, drug dealing, trafficking in children, ritual killing, kidnapping and aiding armed robbers.
It was further gathered that Prophet Edward Okeke was never charged to court, nor tried by any judge or convicted.
On November 9, 2000, after five days in detention, the Bakassi Boys brought him out in public to the Ochanja Market roundabout. In the presence of a large crowd, he was hacked to pieces and his body set ablaze.
His father was released on November 11, 2000, while his elder brother was released on November 12, 2000.
The allegations against Okeke were widely repeated in the press at the time, largely based on claims by the Bakassi Boys themselves.
However, Human Rights Watch, which investigated the killing, stated that it did not know whether there was any substance to the allegations that Okeke was involved in criminal activities.
To date, no court has ever established his guilt, and no member of the Bakassi Boys has been convicted for his killing.
