A suspected homicide has been reported in Uli, a community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where a man known simply as Gozie allegedly killed his lover’s son following a lingering dispute.
The tragic incident, said to have occurred on Sunday night, left residents in shock after the victim, a young man in his 20s, was found dead inside his room.
Community sources disclosed that the deceased had been at loggerheads with his mother’s partner over his repeated visits and growing closeness with the woman, which frequently led to heated confrontations.
Speaking with our correspondent, an eyewitness identified as Somto said neighbours became alarmed after not seeing anyone around the compound for about two days.
He said, “The incident happened close to the Uli campus of Anambra State University. That night, some people heard unusual sounds, but it wasn’t until the occupants were not seen for days that neighbours decided to investigate.
“When they forced the door open, they discovered the young man lying lifeless in his room, surrounded by blood, with severe cuts on his head and body. This immediately drew attention, and youths in the area began searching for the suspect and the victim’s mother, but both had already disappeared.”
The matter was subsequently reported to the police, while the corpse was evacuated and deposited at a morgue.
A video circulating online showed aggrieved youths parading the remains of the deceased in a wheelbarrow across parts of the community as they called for justice.
Further inquiries revealed that the victim’s mother had relocated to Uli after losing her husband, an indigene of Egbu community, where the deceased hailed from.
Another resident, Nnamdi Ozoememam, stated that the relationship between the woman and the suspect had been a constant source of tension.
According to him, “The man was always visiting, and the boy made it clear he was not comfortable with it. Their disagreements became frequent, especially when the man started staying overnight.
“It was gathered that the suspect carried out the attack while the boy was asleep. After the incident, he fled alongside the boy’s mother. The body was only discovered days later.”
The development reportedly sparked anger among youths from Egbu community, who allegedly invaded the suspect’s family compound and set some houses on fire in retaliation.
A community elder, who requested anonymity, decried both the killing and the subsequent violence, warning residents against taking the law into their own hands.
“It is regrettable that the situation escalated into destruction of property. Leaders in both Uli and Egbu must act swiftly to restore calm and prevent further crisis,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said he had yet to receive full details of the incident.
However, a police source in the area confirmed that the case had been recorded and would be forwarded to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further probe.
“The victim’s remains have been deposited in the morgue, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and unravel the circumstances surrounding the case,” the source added.
