Two Nigerian men have been taken into custody by Indian authorities following the brutal murder of a compatriot in the city of Pune. The fatal incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, January 12, 2026, is reported to have stemmed from a romantic dispute involving a Nigerian woman.
Details of the Fatal Altercation
The victim has been identified as 40-year-old Emeka Christian. According to police reports, the tragedy unfolded after Emeka and several other Nigerians attended a dinner on Sunday night at the residence of a Nigerian woman in the Pisoli area, near the Dharmavat petrol pump.
Senior police inspector Mansing Patil of the Kalepadal police station stated that a preliminary probe indicated one of the accused was in a relationship with the woman. It is suspected that Emeka advised the woman to distance herself from this individual, sparking a heated argument.
The conflict turned deadly around 3 am on Monday. As Emeka was leaving the apartment building, the accused persons allegedly followed him to the parking lot. There, they are suspected of thrashing him and attacking him with a hard object, bludgeoning him to death.
Police Response and Community Reaction
Following the attack, Gift Utah, the Vice President of the Nigerian Students Union in Pune, rushed to the scene. He arranged for the critically injured Emeka to be admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic in Wanavdi. Unfortunately, Emeka succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajkumar Shinde confirmed that the murder was a direct fallout of a dispute related to a love affair. The Kalepadal police station promptly registered a First Information Report (FIR) for murder against three Nigerian nationals under sections 103 (murder) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Arrests Made and Manhunt Continues
Police have since arrested two of the accused individuals. They are Jhonpol Obinna Moneke, aged 40, and Nyanemeko Maduabuchi Oniya, aged 43. Law enforcement officials have confirmed that efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend the third suspect named in the FIR.
The case has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian community residing in Pune, highlighting tensions that can erupt far from home. The investigation by the Kalepadal police station team remains active as they work to piece together the full sequence of events.
