A Nigerian healer has been shot dead after encouraging one of his customers to test the efficacy of his bullet-proof charms.

Chinaka Adoezuwe, 26, was killed wearing the pendants around his neck after he instructed the man to fire his weapon.

The incident happened in the country's south-eastern Imo state and police say the shooter has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

A Nigerian healer was shot dead after encouraging one of his customers to test his bullet-proof charms (stock image)

Some Nigerian doctors claim the charms harness various powers and can cure illnesses.

'A young man had gone to [the healer] to prepare bullet-proof charms for him, which the native doctor did,' a witness told the Punch newspaper.

'To prove the efficacy of the new charms, [he] positioned and handed over a gun to his customer. Tragedy struck.'

Recently there have been several reports of people being shot dead trying to prove the efficacy of 'bullet-proof' charms.