Man Confesses To Killing, Dismembering Girlfriend Over HIV Dispute In Enugu

A 30-year-old man, Chibuike Okpara, has confessed to killing his girlfriend and hiding her dismembered remains inside a toilet at his apartment in Enugu State.

Police arrested Okpara over the killing, which occurred on September 19 at his residence in Olympic Layout, One-Day Area of the state.

The victim, initially identified only as Chinyere, has now been identified as Chinyere Ugwu, according to the Enugu State Police Command.

The command’s spokesperson, Superintendent Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed the victim’s full identity in a video posted on Friday.

Ndukwe said Ugwu was 27 and had graduated in Medical Laboratory Science. He added that she recently completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps programme.

The police spokesperson said officers had also identified the victim’s parents and siblings.

He assured the family that the command would prosecute the suspect over the killing.

Speaking in a police video interview, Okpara claimed an argument over HIV infection triggered the confrontation that led to Ugwu’s death.

He said the incident began after he told Ugwu that he could treat Hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis.

According to him, he also asked her to bring friends who might have any of the infections.

Okpara claimed Ugwu then accused him of infecting her with HIV. He said the argument soon escalated into a physical confrontation.

“This led into an argument that resulted in a fight between me and her. So she held a pestle and started hitting me, but I had to withdraw it from her,” he said.

“I hit her, which caused her to collapse,” the suspect added.

Okpara also admitted that he mutilated Ugwu’s body after the assault.

Asked what he did to the remains, he said, “I chopped off her wrist and did some cuts on the head.”

The suspect said he later placed the body inside the toilet because he did not know what else to do.

He claimed neighbours eventually noticed an offensive smell from the apartment and forced their way inside, where they discovered the remains.

Okpara also said he damaged Ugwu’s mobile phone and SIM card to prevent her relatives from contacting her.

He told investigators that he first met the victim on Facebook in 2023. He later relocated from Owerri, Imo State, to Enugu in December 2025.

However, the suspect attributed his actions to drug use, claiming he was not fully conscious during the incident.

“I wasn’t fully aware of myself at first. I was probably on some substance,” he said.

Okpara pleaded for forgiveness and asked the government to temper justice with mercy.

“I have been praying to God for forgiveness. For the fact that this wasn’t actually a clear, pure, intentional act from my angle,” he said.

“And I have been pleading for the government to temper justice with mercy,” he added.

The police have not indicated when the suspect will appear in court, while investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing continues.