From Party to Tragedy: Why two Nigerians were arrested in India

Two Nigerian nationals have been arrested by Indian authorities following the death of a fellow Nigerian in the city of Pune, India.

The suspects, identified as Chukwudi Okafor (31) and Samuel Eze (34), were taken into custody after an incident that occurred in the Pisoli–Phursungi area in the early hours of Monday.

The deceased, Emeka Christian, was a 40-year-old garment trader who was legally resident in India, with his visa reportedly valid until 2027.

According to reports by India Today, the incident followed a small gathering at the apartment of a Nigerian woman on Sunday night. Christian had visited the apartment with friends for what was described as a casual social outing.

However, the gathering later degenerated into a heated disagreement linked to a personal relationship involving the woman.

Police sources said one of the suspects was romantically involved with the woman and frequently visited her residence, a situation the deceased reportedly objected to, leading to a prolonged argument.

The disagreement reportedly stretched late into the night and escalated around 3 a.m. when Christian attempted to leave the apartment.

Investigators said the argument turned violent in the parking area, where the deceased was allegedly attacked with a hard object, resulting in severe injuries.

Christian reportedly collapsed after the assault and was rushed to the hospital by Gift Utah, Vice President of the Nigerian Students’ Union in Pune, but was pronounced dead while receiving treatment.

Confirming the arrests, Senior Police Inspector Mansing Patil said investigations were ongoing, adding that authorities were searching for other possible suspects, as police believe more individuals may have been involved.

“What started as a verbal dispute sadly ended in a fatal incident,” Patil said.

Indian police have launched a manhunt for other accomplices linked to the case.

The incident adds to previous cases involving Nigerians arrested in India over violent crimes. In 2025, two Nigerians were also detained by Indian authorities in connection with the killing of another Nigerian national.