Nigerian Police Accused Of Negligence As Man Murders Cousin Weeks After Victim Reported Sexual Abuse

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 51-year-old Emeka Emmanuel Nwangwu for the gruesome murder of his 19-year-old maternal cousin, Loveth Uloma Nwangwu, highlighting concerns over police handling of reported abuse cases.

The development was announced by SP Daniel Ndukwe, the Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State command on Tuesday.

"The Enugu State Police Command, through operatives of the Nsukka Urban Division, with the support of Neighbourhood Watch Group, on 1st December 2025, arrested one Emeka Emmanuel Nwangwu (male, aged 51) for the gruesome murder of his maternal cousin, Loveth Uloma Nwangwu, aged 19."

The tragedy came after Loveth had bravely reported multiple abuses by the suspect to the police weeks earlier.

"The deceased had earlier reported a case of defilement, sexual abuse, abduction, and threat to life against the suspect on 28th November 2025 to Umabor Division."

She had been living with the suspect since 2019, after the death of his wife, during which she alleged severe abuse and isolation from family and friends.

"She alleged that she had been living with the suspect since 2019, at age 13, after the death of his wife, and that he had restricted her communication with family and friends and subjected her to sexual abuse."

After attempting to escape to her family home in Enugu-Ezike, the suspect allegedly threatened her with a firearm, forcing her back to his residence in Ibeku-Opi, Nsukka LGA, where she was locked up. She later escaped and reported the incident to police, who issued her a medical report form for examination.

"After attempting to escape to her family home in Enugu-Ezike, Igbo-Eze North LGA, the suspect allegedly threatened her with a firearm, forcing her back to his residence in Ibeku-Opi, Nsukka LGA, where she was locked up in a room. She later escaped using a spare key and reported the incident to the police, who issued her a medical report form for examination."

"The suspect and family were invited to the station, where he confessed, sought forgiveness, and promised to return her property."

Despite the confession and the clear evidence of sexual abuse, the police allowed the matter to be resolved privately, releasing the victim back to her abuser.

"The family, citing personal ties, initially chose not to prosecute the case but opted for spiritual cleansing due to the incestuous and abominable act against the victim."
Tragically, while receiving treatment at a pharmacy in Nsukka, the suspect attacked Loveth, inflicting fatal injuries that led to her death.

"Tragically, while receiving treatment at a pharmacy in Nsukka, the suspect forced his way in, assaulted her, and struck her head repeatedly on the floor, causing fatal injuries."

"The victim was taken to the hospital, where her death was confirmed and her remains deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy. The suspect was rearrested and is in police custody."
"The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, condemned the crime and the cruel manner in which it was committed, consoling the family and assuring the public that justice will be served."

"He has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (State CID) to investigate the case meticulously and ensure that it is charged to court within record time."
A Facebook user, Peter Obi, faulted the Police action that led to Loveth's death.

"Shows how incompetent our law enforcing agents are!! By this statement, the police is directly explaining how they failed this young lady who is now late. Shouldn't common sense and logic let you know that you can't just release someone who confessed to such a crime and allow the victim to go and face the risks. Not even when the victim had to find her way to escape with the hope of finding justice from the police .. No protection for her afterward such escape and exposing her abuser.. Rather she was left out there to face the consequences of exposing the crime and now she's said. May God judge all the officers involved in this !!!," he wrote on Facebook.

Another Facebook user, Odinaka Emmanuel Eze wrote; "Poor people suffer in you people’s hand. Someone that committed a crime that basically can attract life imprisonment was reported to you people and you people were romancing with it in the name of family ties and rubbish cleansing. I forgot it’s in Nigeria that k!llers like Boko haram are tagged repentant people and reintegrated into our armed forces which got us to this terrible state of terrorism. Enugu police command failed this young deceased girl . You people gave the criminal a second chance to k!ll the young girl as he earlier threatened, probably because he can afford you people financially and has connections while the girl can’t afford you people. God have mercy on you people. I feel so sad."
Daniel Noble also faulted the Police for their inaction, stating that the force was complicit.

"The police division in umabor that supposed to charge him to court for such grievous crime released him. The case is between him and the state not even the family again." 

"The family doesn't have any right to forgive him for such crime. As at today, defilement is life imprisonment. So, the DPO in Umabor should go in for this matter, because if they did not release him at first nothing would have happened to the innocent girl."