A man has been arrested by Enugu police for the alleged murder of his 19-year-old cousin
The Enugu State Police Command has taken into custody 51-year-old Emmanuel Nwangwu, who is accused of murdering his 19-year-old cousin, Loveth Uloma Nwangwu.
The event reportedly occurred at a pharmacy in the Umuabor community, located in the Nsukka Local Government Area, where Loveth had gone to obtain medication.
Reports indicate that Emmanuel, a member of the local Neighbourhood Watch and a widower since 2019, had taken Loveth, who was just 13 at the time, into his home to help with household chores while he supported her education.
However, instead of fulfilling his promise to her parents regarding her schooling, Emmanuel allegedly subjected her to repeated sexual abuse and prevented her from contacting her family.
He was said to have frequently locked her inside the house and threatened to harm her parents and siblings if she tried to report the abuse or escape.
According to Daniel Ndukwe, the Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu State, Loveth managed to escape to the Umuabor Police Station last month, where she reported Emmanuel for defilement, sexual abuse, abduction, and threats to her life on November 28, 2025.
After attempting to flee to her family home in Enugu-Ezike, Igbo-Eze North LGA, Emmanuel allegedly threatened her with a gun, forcing her back to his home in Ibeku-Opi, Nsukka LGA, where she was confined to a room.
She eventually escaped using a spare key and informed the police, who provided her with a medical report form for examination. Emmanuel and his family were summoned to the police station, where he admitted his actions, sought forgiveness, and promised to return her belongings. Initially, the family chose not to pursue legal action due to their personal connections but later opted for spiritual cleansing because of the incestuous nature of the crime against Loveth.
Ndukwe further stated that, tragically, while Loveth was receiving treatment at a pharmacy in Nsukka, Emmanuel forcibly entered, assaulted her, and repeatedly struck her head against the floor, resulting in fatal injuries.
She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead, and her body was sent to the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The suspect has been rearrested and is currently in police custody. Commissioner of Police Mamman Bitrus Giwa has condemned the crime and the brutal manner in which it was carried out. He assured the public that justice would be served and has instructed the State Criminal Investigation Department to thoroughly investigate the case and ensure it is brought to court promptly.
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