Toronto authorities have arrested 31-year-old Nigerian national, Adimabua Chukwuka, on charges of first-degree murder following the brutal killing of 60-year-old Mario Ferreira, a homeless man, near the University of Toronto campus.
Toronto Police took Chukwuka into custody late Friday afternoon, just hours after Ferreira’s lifeless body was discovered. According to investigators, surveillance footage captured the suspect viciously assaulting Ferreira with debris, possibly taken from a dumpster or construction site. The attack reportedly occurred around 5:20 a.m. on Thursday, as the victim lay defenseless on a bench.
Chukwuka is no stranger to law enforcement, having been involved in multiple violent incidents in Toronto.
August 2014: He was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and failing to comply with probation after allegedly stabbing multiple individuals in separate attacks.
April 2022: He allegedly pulled a knife on a man, stole his mobile phone, and later stabbed another victim twice in the chest during a dispute. He was charged with assault with a weapon, robbery, and possession of a dangerous weapon.
Despite his lengthy rap sheet, details on how these past cases were resolved remain unclear.
This latest case adds to a troubling pattern of high-profile criminal activities linked to individuals of Nigerian descent in Canada.
August 2024: A 46-year-old Canadian-Nigerian woman, Amaka Sonnberger, was arrested for posting online threats to poison Yoruba and Benin people in Canada. Authorities treated the case as a hate-motivated crime.
October 2015: Three individuals, including Nigerian nationals, were arrested in a romance scam that defrauded a 63-year-old Toronto widow of $609,000. Investigators later linked them to a $6.5 billion international fraud syndicate, leading to charges of fraud and money laundering.
Chukwuka’s history of violence and repeated arrests raise concerns about Canada’s judicial system, particularly regarding how high-risk offenders remain free to commit more crimes. The Toronto police continue to investigate the circumstances of this latest killing, urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
As the case unfolds, many are left questioning: Could this tragedy have been prevented?
PIONEER NEWS 