A 38-year-old officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has been killed following a violent domestic altercation at his residence in Umuihi Village, within the Umuahia community of Abia State.
The deceased, identified as Chidiebere James, popularly known by his colleagues and friends as “Agari”, allegedly met his end at the hands of his wife during a heated argument on Tuesday morning.
According to eyewitness accounts, the couple had been embroiled in a loud and confrontational quarrel before the situation turned lethal. It is alleged that during the dispute, the wife used a pair of scissors to inflict a fatal wound on the officer.
Local youths, drawn to the residence by the sounds of the disturbance, reportedly discovered Mr James lying motionless in a pool of blood. A source familiar with the incident noted the tragic timing of the discovery:
“They had a heated argument this morning. In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, a neighbour had called the wife to sit at her store, unaware that Agari had already been attacked. The situation took a grim turn when the youths entered the room to ease the tension, only to find him motionless with the murder weapon lying beside him.”
Mr James was reportedly rushed to a nearby medical facility by neighbours and community members, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Tensions in Umuihi Village reached a breaking point following the news of the officer’s death. Sources within the community alleged that the wife attempted to flee the scene with their two young daughters shortly after the incident. However, she was intercepted by an enraged mob of local youths. It is understood that she was rescued from a potential lynching by the timely intervention of more temperate community members and local authorities.
While the specific catalyst for Tuesday’s fatal encounter remains unconfirmed, residents noted that the couple’s relationship had long been marred by volatility. Neighbours described the household as one prone to frequent and serious disputes, suggesting a history of domestic friction that preceded the morning’s tragedy.
The deceased officer is survived by his two daughters. When contacted for an official statement regarding the arrest of the suspect and the progress of the investigation, the Spokesperson for the Abia State Police Command, DSP Mourine Chinaka, stated that she had not yet been fully briefed on the specifics of the case.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has yet to issue a formal tribute or statement regarding the loss of their personnel.
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