One year after four year old Zinachukwu “Zina” Ugwu was brutally murdered by a co tenant in Umunwanwa, Nsukka, her family is still seeking justice. They accuse the police of mishandling the case, delaying investigations, and turning their pain into an avenue for extortion.
On August 18, 2024, Zina’s father, Ndubuisi Ugwu, a lecturer at the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, was on a video call with his family. His daughter asked for a kiss, not knowing it would be the last time he saw her alive.
Later that night, their co tenant, 30 year old Nweke Chukwuemeka, broke into the family’s flat. Zina’s mother, Loveth, managed to escape with three children, but Zina, still asleep, was left behind. Chukwuemeka seized her, held her at knifepoint, and slit her throat while neighbors watched helplessly. Police arrived shortly after and arrested him, but Zina was already dead.
Tenants said the suspect had a history of drug use and violent behavior, which had been reported to the landlord, Emeka Onyishi, who allegedly ignored the complaints. Shockingly, after his arrest, Chukwuemeka claimed the landlord paid him ₦1 million to commit the crime, a claim Onyishi denied.
The grieving father also alleged that the landlord later tried to bribe him with ₦500,000 to drop his name from the case.
Mr. Ugwu accused several police officers of demanding money at different stages of the investigation. He said officers requested cash for “fuel,” “bail,” and even for the release of Zina’s corpse for burial. At one point, he was allegedly told the charges against the landlord would be reduced unless he paid.
These repeated demands, Ugwu said, destroyed his trust in the justice system.
The Enugu State Police PRO, Daniel Ndukwe, denied knowledge of extortion and confirmed that the suspect confessed to killing Zina under the influence of drugs and alcohol. He assured that investigations were ongoing, but the family insists progress has been painfully slow.
Since the tragedy, the Ugwus have lost their home and now depend on relatives for shelter. Zina’s pink bicycle, the gift her father bought before her death, remains untouched, a painful reminder of their loss.
Her parents, still traumatized, say their children can no longer attend school regularly. On January 28, 2025, they petitioned the Inspector General of Police, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, and lawmakers, demanding a proper investigation and punishment for officers who exploited their grief.
“We have suffered so much. Nothing can bring Zina back, but justice must be done,” Ugwu said. “We want accountability, not just for us, but so no other family will go through this kind of pain.”
