ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Enugu State Police Command has taken a 51-year-old security operative, Emeka Emmanuel Nwangwu, into custody for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old maternal cousin, Loveth Uloma Nwangwu, in Nsukka.
According to the command, the suspect a member of the Neighbourhood Security Watch was tracked down and arrested at a pharmacy in Nsukka, where he reportedly attacked the victim while she was receiving treatment.
Commissioner of Police Mamman Bitrus Giwa condemned the killing, describing it as “cruel and abominable,” and assured residents that a thorough investigation was underway to ensure swift prosecution.
Police spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the tragedy unfolded days after the victim lodged a complaint of defilement, sexual abuse, abduction and threats to life at the Umabor Police Division on November 28.
She told investigators she had lived with the suspect since 2019 when she was 13 and had been isolated from relatives while being subjected to continuous sexual abuse.
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Ndukwe explained that after the teenager attempted to flee to her family home in Enugu-Ezike, the suspect allegedly chased her down, threatened her with a firearm, and confined her in his residence in Ibeku-Opi, Nsukka.
She eventually escaped using a spare key and reported the case to the police, who issued a medical form and invited both families for questioning.
The suspect reportedly admitted to the offences and pleaded for forgiveness, while the family initially declined prosecution, opting instead for traditional cleansing over what they termed an incestuous act.
However, events took a deadly turn on December 1 when the suspect stormed the pharmacy where the victim was undergoing treatment and allegedly slammed her head repeatedly on the floor.
She was rushed to the hospital but later confirmed dead. Her body has been deposited for autopsy.
The suspect was immediately rearrested. The CP has ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department to “meticulously” handle the case and file charges without delay.
The statement reads; “The Enugu State Police Command, through operatives of the Nsukka Urban Division, with the support of Neighbourhood Watch Group, on December 1, 2025, arrested one Emeka Emmanuel Nwangwu (male, aged 51) for the gruesome murder of his maternal cousin sister, Loveth Uloma Nwangwu, aged 19.
“The deceased had earlier reported a case of defilement, sexual abuse, abduction, and threat to life against the suspect on 28th November 2025 to Umabor Division. She alleged that she had been living with the suspect since 2019, at age 13, after the death of his wife, and that he had restricted her communication with family and friends and subjected her to sexual abuse.
“After attempting to escape to her family home in Enugu-Ezike, Igbo-Eze North LGA, the suspect allegedly threatened her with a firearm, forcing her back to his residence in Ibeku-Opi, Nsukka LGA, where she was locked up in a room. She later escaped using a spare key and reported the incident to the police, who issued her a medical report form for examination.
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“The suspect and family were invited to the station, where he confessed, sought forgiveness, and promised to return her property. The family, citing personal ties, initially chose not to prosecute the case but opted for spiritual cleansing due to the incestuous and abominable act against the victim.
“Tragically, while receiving treatment at a pharmacy in Nsukka, the suspect forced his way in, assaulted her, and struck her head repeatedly on the floor, causing fatal injuries. The victim was taken to the hospital, where her death was confirmed and her remains deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy. The suspect was rearrested and is in police custody.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, condemned the crime and the cruel manner in which it was committed, consoling the family and assuring the public that justice will be served. He has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (State CID) to investigate the case meticulously and ensure that it is charged to court within record time.”