Enugu Police Identify Woman Allegedly Killed by Boyfriend

The Enugu State Police Command has identified the woman allegedly killed by her boyfriend, Okpara Chibuike Emmanuel, as 27-year-old Chinyere Rosemary Ugwu.

The command disclosed this in an update on the case on Friday, stating that Ugwu was a graduate of Medical Laboratory Science from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, and had recently completed her National Youth Service Corps programme.

According to the police, Ugwu’s parents and siblings have also been identified and interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, reportedly met with the deceased’s family and the suspect and assured the family that justice would be served.

Emmanuel, 30, was arrested following the alleged killing of Ugwu at his residence in the Olympic Layout area of Enugu.

Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the incident followed an argument reportedly linked to allegations concerning the source of a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection.

The command alleged that Emmanuel struck Ugwu on the head with a pestle, causing her death, before allegedly wrapping her remains in nylon and locking them inside the toilet of his apartment.

The decomposing body was reportedly discovered after neighbours noticed an offensive odour and forced the door open. The suspect was subsequently apprehended by residents before police operatives arrived.

The remains were taken to a mortuary for preservation and autopsy, while the suspect was rescued from an angry mob and re-arrested by officers attached to the Awkunanaw Division.

The police said the investigation remains ongoing.

The command also urged members of the public, particularly women, to exercise caution in their relationships and ensure that trusted people are aware of their whereabouts.

It advised people not to assume that familiarity automatically guarantees safety, urging members of the public to remain vigilant and trust their instincts.