‘Whose hair is in the pot?’ — Umuahia customers alarmed as barber arrested over ritual scare

A popular Umuahia barber identified only as Emeka has been arrested by Abia State Police after a clay pot filled with human hair and other fetish items was discovered in his one-room apartment during a search conducted following a neighbour’s complaint.

He was known for his stylish cuts. Now his customers are asking uncomfortable questions about where their hair ended up.

A barber simply identified as Emeka has been arrested by men of the Abia State Police Command after a clay pot stuffed with human hair and other fetish items was discovered inside his one-room apartment in Umuahia on Tuesday.

According to sources familiar with the development, the arrest was triggered not by suspicion of fetish activity but by a neighbourly dispute. Mr. Johnson Ikenga, a neighbour of the suspect, lodged a complaint at the Central Police Station, Umuahia, alleging that Emeka had been threatening him. When police officers arrived at the apartment to make the arrest, they conducted a search — and found a great deal more than they bargained for.

As reported by Daily Post, the clay pot discovered during the search was filled with human hair alongside other fetish items. When interrogated, Emeka admitted the pot belonged to him but was unable to explain what the items were used for or where the hair came from.

That last detail has set the Umuahia community on edge. Residents are now openly speculating that the hair inside the pot may have come from customers who sat in the barber’s chair — a possibility that has sent alarm through those who patronised the popular stylist.

The suspect was taken away by officers from Central Police Station, Umuahia, for further investigation. An official statement from the Abia State Police Command was still being awaited at the time of this report.

The case has reignited public concerns about the safety of routine visits to barbershops and the potential exploitation of client trust by practitioners engaged in fetish activities.

Investigation is ongoing.