- ‘Love Is Not by Force’: Police warn as man flees after acid assault on lover
The Enugu State Police Command has arrested a 51-year-old man, Emeka Emmanuel Nwangwu, for the alleged murder of his 19-year-old maternal cousin, Loveth Uloma Nwangwu, just days after she reported him to authorities for sexual abuse, abduction, and repeated threats to her life.
Police spokesperson SP Daniel Ndukwe described the killing, announced on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, as a gruesome and heartbreaking tragedy that has stunned the Nsukka community at the start of the festive season.
According to police, operatives from the Nsukka Urban Division, supported by the local Neighbourhood Watch Group, arrested the suspect on Monday, 1 December 1, at a pharmacy in Nsukka, the same location where he allegedly carried out the fatal attack.
A Disturbing Trail of Abuse
Police records show that Loveth had formally filed a complaint on November 28 at the Umabor Division. She alleged that she had lived with the suspect since 2019, when she was just 13, following the death of his wife. During those years, she said she was subjected to prolonged sexual abuse, threats, forced isolation, and abduction.
After escaping to her family home in Enugu-Ezike, the suspect allegedly pursued her, brandished a firearm, and forcibly took her back to his residence in Ibeku-Opi, Nsukka LGA. She escaped again and reported the ordeal to the police.
Authorities issued her a medical form for examination and invited both families to be questioned. During early mediation efforts, the suspect allegedly admitted to some of the allegations and asked for forgiveness, promising to return the teen’s belongings. Loveth’s family, citing cultural sensitivities and the taboo nature of the alleged incest, initially opted for “spiritual cleansing” rather than immediate criminal prosecution.
A Fatal Attack
The case turned deadly when Loveth, while receiving treatment at a pharmacy, was reportedly ambushed by the same man she had accused.
“The suspect forcefully gained access into the pharmacy, assaulted the victim, and repeatedly smashed her head on the floor,” SP Ndukwe said.
She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her body has been deposited at a mortuary awaiting autopsy.
Police re-arrested the suspect at the scene, and he remains in custody.
Enugu State Commissioner of Police CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa condemned the killing as cruel, inhuman, and utterly unacceptable, vowing to pursue justice relentlessly.
“This is a deeply disturbing crime,” Giwa said. “The Command will leave no stone unturned. Justice must be served, and it will be served.”
He directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to conduct a thorough probe and file charges without delay.
The killing has thrown Nsukka and the surrounding communities into shock as residents grapple with the allegations of long-term abuse and the brutal murder of the young woman.
Police urged the public to stay calm and allow investigators to complete their work.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has launched a manhunt for a man identified as Timothy Gilbert, who allegedly doused his girlfriend, Angela Ogah, 40, with acid before fleeing.
Command spokesperson Moses Yamu** confirmed the attack, which occurred at Ihovbe Quarters in Ikpoba Hill, noting that the couple had been embroiled in disputes over alleged infidelity.
“The command has commenced a manhunt for the arrest of the suspect, and I am sure he will be brought to justice,” Yamu said, urging the public to walk away from abusive relationships, adding, “Love is not by force.”
Gilbert allegedly fled after the early-December attack.
Ogah’s lawyer, John Izegaegbe, told reporters on Monday that the victim is currently hospitalised in critical condition at a private facility. A petition has been filed with the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, seeking urgent action.
“She is in severe pain. She could barely speak when journalists visited her,” Izegaegbe said, appealing for the immediate arrest of the fugitive suspect.
