A 22-year-old mother of one, returning from a 31st night church service has allegedly been shot dead by a fetish priest who claimed to be performing rituals to the gods at Abirem near Kenyasi in Kumasi.

Madam Lydia Boatema died shortly after being hit in the right side of her head by bullets fired from a single-barrelled gun allegedly fired by the suspect, Nana Kwarteng, also known as Sampson.

The deceased’s one-and-a-half year old daughter, who survived the incident, was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The incident happened at about 1:30 a.m. on the eve of New Year, January 1, 2024, when the deceased was traveling in a commercial tricycle, also known as 'Pragya', from a 31st night church service.

The priest, Nana Kwarteng, claims he was performing some rituals for the gods when he fired multiple shots from a single-barrelled gun.

He admitted to the offence in his cautionary statement to the Kenyasi District Police Command following his arrest after the incident.

Meanwhile, the surviving toddler has undergone surgery to remove pellets stuck in her body.

Sources at the Kenyasi District Police Command say the suspect, Nana Kwarteng, will soon be arraigned.