Two Nigerian nationals, Chukwudi Okafor, 31, and Samuel Eze, 34, have been arrested in India for allegedly beating their friend, Emeka Christian, to death after a dispute over a woman in Pune.
According to reports by India Today, the incident occurred in the Pisoli-Phursungi area of Pune in the early hours of Monday.
The victim, Emeka Christian, a 40-year-old garment trader, was said to be legally residing in India with a valid visa that runs until 2027. He had reportedly visited the apartment of a Nigerian woman on Sunday night alongside friends for a small social gathering.
What initially started as a friendly get-together allegedly degenerated into a heated argument over a romantic relationship involving the woman.
“One of the accused was in a relationship with the woman and used to visit her frequently. The victim objected to this, which led to a quarrel,” a police source told India Today.
The disagreement reportedly dragged on into the early hours of the morning and escalated around 3 a.m. when Emeka attempted to leave the apartment.
“The argument turned violent when the victim tried to leave. He was beaten with a hard object, causing serious injuries,” police sources said.
According to a senior police officer, the suspects allegedly followed Emeka to the parking area, where they continued the assault.
“As he was leaving the flat, the accused followed him to the parking area and attacked him with a hard object,” the officer said.
The victim reportedly collapsed after the brutal beating. He was rushed to a hospital by Gift Utah, Vice President of the Nigerian Students’ Union in Pune, but was pronounced dead while receiving treatment.
“What began as a verbal dispute turned into a fatal assault,” Senior Police Inspector Mansing Patil confirmed.
Indian police have confirmed the arrest of the two suspects and disclosed that investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to track down other possible accomplices. Authorities believe as many as four individuals may have been involved in the attack.
“The investigation is ongoing, and a manhunt has been launched for other suspects,” a police source said.
The incident adds to a growing list of cases involving Nigerians arrested in India over violent crimes. In 2025, Indian police arrested two Nigerians, Ayoola Babajide and Oghene Igere, for the alleged killing of another Nigerian, Lucky Ikechukwu Ijeh.
