A 26-year-old man, identified as Ifeanyi Chukwu Joseph, has been arrested in Imo State after allegedly pushing his girlfriend’s 17-year-old sister, Chiamaka Chukwuokore, from a two-storey building in Owerri.
The teenager reportedly sustained serious injuries in the incident and is currently in critical condition at a hospital.
The incident occurred around 1pm on Sunday, November 1, at a building along Mbonu Ejike Street, Ikeneagbu, Owerri, following an alleged confrontation between Joseph and the teenager.
The development sparked outrage among residents, who reportedly descended on the suspect and attempted to lynch him before police operatives arrived to rescue him.
The Imo State Police Command confirmed the arrest on Monday, saying officers successfully whisked Joseph away from the angry crowd and took him into custody.
The command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, said the victim was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital after the incident, where she remains under medical care.
Additional reports said a video of the dramatic rescue showed three armed police operatives struggling to move the handcuffed suspect through the angry crowd before eventually getting him into a patrol vehicle.
The police said investigations had commenced to establish what led to the confrontation and the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s fall.
However, the command did not disclose the specific disagreement between Joseph and Chiamaka or what happened immediately before she plunged from the building.
The Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, assured that the incident would be thoroughly investigated and that anyone found responsible would face the law.
He appealed to residents to remain calm, shun mob justice and allow the police to conduct their investigation.
The command also urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information about the incident, promising to provide further updates as investigations progress.
Don’t Miss Out! Join our WhatsApp Channel for instant news updates. Click here to join
