Authorities in Pune, India, have taken two Nigerian nationals into custody following a violent altercation that resulted in the death of their friend and colleague.
The suspects, identified as 31-year-old Chukwudi Okafor and 34-year-old Samuel Eze, are accused of beating Emeka Christian to death after a disagreement regarding a romantic relationship.
The tragic incident unfolded in the Pisoli-Phursungi area during the early hours of Monday morning, following what was intended to be a social gathering.
The victim, a 40-year-old garment trader residing legally in India on a visa valid until 2027, had joined friends at a Nigerian woman’s apartment on Sunday evening. As the night progressed, tensions flared over the woman’s relationship with one of the men present.
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Explaining the root of the conflict, a police source told India Today: “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.”
The verbal disagreement reportedly simmered for hours until approximately 3:00 a.m., when Christian attempted to de-escalate the situation by leaving the premises. However, the situation turned physical as he exited.
According to police sources: “The argument turned violent when the victim tried to leave. He was beaten with a hard object, causing serious injuries,” Further details provided by a senior police officer describe a targeted attack in the building’s exterior: “As he was leaving the flat, the accused followed him to the parking area and attacked him with a hard object.
“Christian collapsed in the parking lot following the assault. He was rushed to a nearby hospital by Gift Utah, the vice president of the Nigerian Students’ Union in Pune, but medical professionals were unable to save him. He was declared dead during treatment.”
Local law enforcement is now treating the case as a homicide. Reflecting on the swift escalation of violence, Senior Police Inspector Mansing Patil told India Today: “What began as a verbal dispute turned into a fatal assault.”
While Okafor and Eze are currently in custody, investigators believe they did not act alone. Reports suggest up to four individuals may have participated in the attack.
Regarding the status of the case, a police source disclosed: “The investigation is ongoing, and a manhunt has been launched for other suspects.”
This tragedy follows a similar case in 2025, where Pune police arrested two other Nigerian nationals, Ayoola Babajide and Oghene Igere, for the alleged killing of their compatriot, Lucky Ikechukwu Ijeh. The recurring nature of such incidents has drawn significant attention to the safety and internal dynamics of the expatriate community in the region.
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