The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old man, Anikpe Valentine Chibuike, for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Ogechukwu Mmadubugwu, a 35-year-old single mother, in a chilling crime that has rocked Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of the state.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on January 11, 2026, and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.
According to the police, Chibuike was apprehended on January 7, 2026, by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, following intensive investigations into the killing, which occurred in the late hours of December 9, 2025.
Police investigations debunked widespread reports claiming that the victim was murdered by unknown assailants over debts allegedly owed by the suspect. The command described such narratives as false, misleading, and inconsistent with established investigative findings.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to stabbing the victim in the neck with a knife around midnight, an attack that led to her instant death.
“The suspect admitted that the murder was committed over suspicion of infidelity,” the police statement revealed.
Further investigations uncovered a disturbing backstory. The suspect allegedly disclosed that after becoming financially bankrupt and heavily indebted while attempting to set up a business for the deceased, he slipped into emotional distress. This emotional and financial pressure, police say, escalated into a fatal confrontation.
In a desperate attempt to evade justice, Chibuike reportedly planted a fake letter, falsely claiming he had been kidnapped by his creditors. Investigators believe the fabricated note was designed to mislead security agencies and facilitate his escape after committing the crime.
Detectives have since visited the mortuary where the victim’s body was deposited as part of ongoing investigative procedures.
The gruesome incident has sparked public outrage and reignited intense conversations around domestic violence, toxic relationships, and emotionally driven crimes across Anambra State and beyond.
Reacting to the development, the Anambra State Police Command urged residents to adopt lawful and peaceful means in resolving personal and relationship disputes. The command also emphasized the need for the public to report early signs of domestic violence to security agencies to prevent needless loss of life.
Police authorities confirmed that the suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
— A tragedy that underscores the deadly consequences of unresolved emotional conflict and violence disguised as love.
PIONEER NEWS 