A man identified simply as Gozie is on the run after he allegedly killed his lover’s son during a dispute over his relationship with the victim’s mother in Uli community, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The incident, said to have occurred on Sunday night, has left residents in shock and triggered unrest within the area.
The deceased, a young man in his 20s, was reportedly attacked inside his room following a series of confrontations with the suspect, whom he had opposed over his continued visits to their residence.
Residents told our correspondent that disagreements between both parties had lingered for some time, frequently resulting in heated exchanges.
An eyewitness, Somto, said suspicion was raised after neighbours noticed an unusual silence in the compound and did not see any of the occupants for days.
“The house is located close to the Uli campus of Anambra State University. People said they heard disturbing sounds that night, but it was when no one came out for about two days that they decided to investigate,” he said.
He explained that neighbours who checked the rooms discovered the victim’s body lying in a pool of blood.
“When they entered, they found the young man dead with deep cuts on his head and other parts of his body.
The discovery drew a crowd, and some youths immediately began searching for the suspect and the woman, but both had fled,” he added.
The matter was subsequently reported to the police, while the remains of the deceased were taken to a morgue.
A video circulating online showed some youths moving the corpse in a wheelbarrow through parts of the community while calling for justice.
Findings further revealed that the victim’s mother had relocated to Uli after the death of her husband, who hailed from a neighbouring community.
Another resident, Nnamdi Ozoememam, said the relationship between the woman and the suspect had long been a source of conflict in the household.
“The man was a frequent visitor, and the boy consistently objected, warning him to stay away.
Their clashes became more frequent, especially when the man began staying overnight,” he said.
He alleged that the suspect carried out the attack while the victim was asleep before escaping with the woman.
“It was only after some days that neighbours discovered what had happened,” he added.
The development reportedly sparked anger among youths from the victim’s community, who allegedly invaded the suspect’s family compound and set some buildings ablaze in retaliation.
“The situation escalated when some youths paraded the corpse and later attacked the suspect’s compound, burning houses in the process,” Ozoememam said.
A community elder, who spoke on condition of anonymity, condemned both the killing and the retaliatory violence, urging residents to avoid taking the law into their own hands.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said he could not immediately verify the incident.
However, a police source in the Ihiala area confirmed that the case was being documented and would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department.
“The body has been recovered and deposited at the morgue, while the prime suspects are still at large. Investigations are ongoing,” the source said.