The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 30-year-old Okpara Emmanuel for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Chinyere, during a heated argument over who infected whom with HIV. The suspect reportedly struck the victim on the head with a pestle and concealed her decomposing body inside the toilet of his apartment in the Olympic Layout area of Enugu State.
Neighbours Discover Decomposing Body After Foul Odour
According to the command's Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, neighbours made the grim discovery when they detected a foul odour emanating from Emmanuel's apartment. They forced their way in and found the decomposing body of a woman identified only as Chinyere. The neighbours held the suspect until police arrived, though officers later had to rescue him from an angry mob before re-arresting him at about 6:30pm on Monday, September 21, 2026, through operatives of the Awkunanaw Division.
Ndukwe disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, as reported by The Punch. Preliminary investigation revealed that Emmanuel allegedly killed Chinyere on September 19, 2026, wrapped her remains in a nylon bag, and locked them inside the toilet of his apartment. The body remained there until the odour drew the attention of people living nearby.
Suspect Confesses to Killing During Interrogation
Emmanuel allegedly admitted to the killing during early interrogation. He told investigators that a quarrel broke out between him and the deceased over who had infected the other with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). During that argument, he allegedly struck her on the head with a pestle, causing her death, before concealing her body in the toilet.
"During preliminary interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, stating that the incident followed an argument between him and the deceased over allegations of who infected the other with Human Immunodeficiency Virus. He further stated that, during the argument, he struck the deceased on the head with a pestle, resulting in her death, and subsequently wrapped and dumped her remains inside the toilet," Ndukwe said.
Investigation and Next Steps
The remains have since been taken to a mortuary for preservation and an autopsy. Police said efforts were continuing to identify and reach Chinyere's relatives. The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, has ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department to carry out a thorough and discreet investigation into the matter. Ndukwe added that Emmanuel would be charged in court once the investigation is complete.
The command also used the occasion to issue a safety warning, urging members of the public, particularly young women, to keep trusted relatives or friends informed of their whereabouts and to take caution when visiting people. In a related case, police operatives arrested Malime Ejor for killing his girlfriend, Moshie Igu, over alleged infidelity during a heated argument on a farm in Cross River State, as reported by Legit.ng.
