Two Nigerians, Chukwudi Okafor, 31, and Samuel Eze, 34, have been arrested in India for allegedly beating their friend, Emeka Christian, to death following a dispute over a woman in Pune.
The incident reportedly occurred in the Pisoli-Phursungi area of Pune in the early hours of Monday, according to a report by India Today on Wednesday.
The victim, a 40-year-old garment trader, was said to be legally residing in India with a visa valid until 2027. He had reportedly gone to the apartment of a Nigerian woman on Sunday night with friends for a small gathering.
What initially began as a friendly party allegedly degenerated into a heated argument over a romantic relationship involving the woman. Police sources said one of the suspects was in a relationship with her and visited her frequently, a situation the victim reportedly objected to, leading to a quarrel.
The disagreement persisted late into the night and reportedly escalated around 3 a.m. when the victim attempted to leave the apartment. Police said the argument turned violent as he was allegedly attacked with a hard object, sustaining severe injuries.
According to investigators, the suspects allegedly followed Emeka to the parking area of the apartment complex and continued the assault. He reportedly collapsed after the attack and was rushed to a hospital by Gift Utah, the vice president of the Nigerian Students’ Union in Pune, but was pronounced dead while receiving treatment.
Confirming the incident, Senior Police Inspector Mansing Patil said what started as a verbal dispute eventually turned into a fatal assault. The police have since confirmed the arrest of the two suspects and disclosed that investigations are ongoing to track down other possible accomplices, as up to four individuals are believed to have been involved.
Authorities said a manhunt has been launched for other suspects connected to the case.
The incident adds to previous cases involving Nigerians in India. In 2025, Indian police arrested two Nigerians, Ayoola Babajide and Oghene Igere, over the alleged killing of another Nigerian, Lucky Ikechukwu Ijeh.
