Man in Anambra Allegedly Murders Lover's Only Son Over Relationship Dispute

In Anambra State, a man referred to as Gozie has allegedly taken the life of his girlfriend's only son as a result of conflicts surrounding their relationship.

The incident transpired on the evening of March 15, 2026, in the Uli community within the Ihiala Local Government Area. The victim, reportedly in his 20s, was assaulted in his bedroom after several disagreements with his mother’s partner regarding the latter’s frequent presence in their home.

According to local residents, tensions between the deceased and Gozie had existed for a while, often resulting in heated disputes.

An eyewitness, who chose to identify himself only as Somto, mentioned that neighbors grew concerned after not seeing anyone from the household for several days. "The event took place on Sunday night close to the Uli campus of Anambra State University. Neighbors reported hearing strange sounds that night, but it was only after two days of silence that they decided to investigate," he shared.

During their search of the property, residents discovered the young man's lifeless body on the floor, covered in blood.

"Upon entering the young man’s room, they found him with severe machete wounds on his head and other areas. This incident attracted a crowd, leading local youths to quickly initiate a search for Gozie and the boy’s mother, who had both gone into hiding," Somto added.

The authorities were later notified about the incident, and the deceased was taken to a morgue for examination.

A video that has emerged on social media portrays youths transporting the body through the community in a wheelbarrow while demanding justice for the slain young man.

Further investigations revealed that the victim’s mother had returned to Uli following the death of her husband, a native of the nearby Egbu community where the late young man hailed from.

Another member of the community, Nnamdi Ozoememam, spoke to the media regarding the background of the conflict. He noted that Gozie's relationship with the victim's mother had led to ongoing strife.

"A man began visiting the woman regularly, and the boy expressed his disapproval several times. This frequently escalated into arguments. Eventually, the man started spending nights at their home, which intensified the boy's resentment," he remarked.

Ozoememam further indicated that Gozie attacked the young man while he was asleep that fatal night.

"After the act, the suspect fled with the boy’s mother. It was several days later that neighbors discovered the gruesome scene," he added.

The reaction to the killing triggered protests among youths from Egbu community, who reportedly raided the suspect's family home, resulting in extensive property damage.

"Tensions boiled over as some youths paraded the corpse throughout the community before storming the suspect's compound, where they set buildings on fire," he explained.

A local elder, who spoke anonymously, denounced both the murder and the violent backlash, urging for persistent dialogue to avoid further violence.

“It is regrettable that the situation escalated into destruction of property. Leaders from Uli and Egbu should take measures to avert further conflict," he emphasized.

A police spokesperson in Ihiala confirmed that the case is under review and will be handed over to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department.

"The body has been retrieved and placed in the morgue. The two main suspects remain at large, and efforts are ongoing to fully understand the circumstances of this tragic event," the spokesperson stated.