The Imo State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old man, Ifeanyi Chukwu Joseph, for allegedly pushing a 17-year-old girl, Chiamaka Chukwuokore, from a two-storey building in Owerri, the state capital.
The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday, November 1, 2026, following an altercation between the suspect and the victim. The Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, confirmed the arrest on Monday, disclosing that the victim is the younger sister of the suspect’s girlfriend.
According to the police, the incident happened at about 1:00 pm along Mbonu Ejike Street, Ikeneagbu, Owerri. Okoye said the victim sustained serious injuries after allegedly being pushed from the building and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment in critical condition.
He added that an angry mob gathered after the incident and attempted to lynch the suspect before police operatives intervened and rescued him. In a statement, the command said the suspect had been taken into custody and was undergoing investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and facilitate appropriate legal action.
The police also appealed to members of the public to refrain from spreading unverified information about the incident and allow investigators to carry out their duties. The Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, assured residents that the incident was being thoroughly investigated and that anyone found culpable would face the law.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their hands, assuring them that further developments would be communicated as the investigation progresses.