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The Imo State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old man, Ifeanyi Chukwu Joseph, following an incident in which a 17-year-old girl fell from a two-storey building in Owerri.
The teenager, identified as Chiamaka Chukwuokore, remains in a coma and is receiving medical attention.
The incident occurred at about 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, along Mbonu Ejike Street, Ikenegbu, in Owerri. It reportedly followed an altercation between the girl and Joseph, who is said to be dating her sister.
Police initially alleged that the suspect pushed the teenager from the building, leaving her with serious injuries.
However, the command has cautioned against drawing conclusions about how she fell, stressing that investigations remain ongoing and that the suspect has presented a different account.
Police spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed the arrest. He said officers rescued Joseph from an angry mob that attempted to lynch him before taking him into custody.
Police Confirm Teenager Remains In Coma
In a subsequent clarification, Okoye dismissed social media reports claiming that the teenager had died.
He confirmed that she was still alive but remained in a coma and critical condition.
The police spokesperson also addressed allegations that Joseph pushed the girl after she rejected his sexual advances, saying investigators had not established the claim.
According to Okoye, the suspect told investigators that he had an altercation with the teenager. He reportedly said he went to answer a knock at the door and later heard a noise from the back of the building.
Joseph allegedly claimed that the girl had run towards the rear staircase and fallen.
However, Okoye said the account did not fully explain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He disclosed that investigators had been deployed to the scene to obtain eyewitness accounts and establish what happened.
The spokesperson also said members of both families had expressed doubts about the allegation against the suspect.
Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, assured residents that the command would conduct a thorough investigation and prosecute anyone found culpable.
Similar Incident In Anambra Left Woman Dead
The Owerri incident bears similarities to a case reported in Anambra State involving a woman who allegedly fell from a fifth-floor apartment in Awada, Obosi.
The report identified the suspect as 37-year-old Nonso Eze, who was arrested following the woman’s death.
According to a statement by the Anambra State Police Command, the woman, believed to be about 23, reportedly fell from the building at approximately 3 a.m. on January 23.
Police operatives who visited the scene rushed her to Bex Hospital in Onitsha, where medical personnel certified her dead on arrival.
The command said preliminary inquiries from occupants of the compound suggested that the woman was allegedly pushed from the suspect’s apartment following a quarrel.
Police arrested Eze and recovered items from his apartment as exhibits. Authorities also deposited the woman’s body in a mortuary for an autopsy as investigations continued.
Ogun Police Investigate Two Suspected Domestic Violence Killings
In September 2026, the Ogun State Police Command investigated two separate incidents involving women who allegedly died following domestic disputes with their husbands.
In one case, police arrested a man identified as Tajudeen Yekini over the alleged killing of his wife, Toyin Edunjobi, at their residence in Ogungbade Village, near Ayerose, in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area.
The incident reportedly occurred on September 1 after the couple’s son raised an alarm. Neighbours who responded found the woman lying motionless inside the apartment and alerted the police.
In another incident reported less than 24 hours earlier, a man identified as Odukoya Bidemi allegedly assaulted his wife, Adenike, during an argument in Ibogun Akinode community.
The woman later died from injuries sustained during the confrontation, according to the police account reported by The Guardian.
Bidemi reportedly died in a road accident while fleeing the area. Police subsequently identified his body during their investigation.
The incidents renewed concerns about domestic violence and the escalation of relationship disputes into fatal confrontations.
Report Documents 136 Spousal Killing Cases In Nigeria
A 2025 investigation by Weekend Trust documented 136 deaths linked to spousal killings across Nigeria between 2021 and 2025.
The report, based on newspaper accounts compiled by the Daily Trust Library, recorded 96 female victims and 39 male victims. One case involved a woman engaged to be married, while another reportedly involved the deaths of both partners.
Lagos recorded the highest number of cases with 17. Edo, Ogun and Adamawa followed with 10 cases each.
Anambra recorded nine cases, while Delta and Ondo had seven each.
The investigation identified domestic disagreements, jealousy, accusations of infidelity, financial disputes and conflicts over household responsibilities among circumstances associated with several reported killings.
However, the figures came from media reports rather than official nationwide police statistics. The report also noted that some incidents may go unreported, particularly when families settle disputes privately without involving law enforcement authorities.
Imo Police Warn Against Jungle Justice And False Reports
As investigations into the Owerri incident continue, the Imo State Police Command has appealed to residents to remain calm and allow investigators to establish the facts.
The command also warned against spreading unverified information, particularly claims about the teenager’s death and the alleged motive behind the incident.
Joseph remains in police custody as investigators seek eyewitness accounts and work to determine the circumstances surrounding the girl’s fall.
The police said they would provide further information as the investigation progresses.
