Man Arrested For Allegedly Killing His Father Over Land Dispute In Abia

The Abia State Police Command has arrested a man Uchechukwu Uchegbu over the alleged killing of his father, Emmanuel Uchegbu, following a long-running dispute over family land.

The incident happened in Elugwu Nkata community, located in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State.

Speaking with Punch, a family member, Chinedu Uche, said the problem began when the suspect allegedly tried to take over family land for his personal use, a move his father strongly opposed.

According to him, the disagreement over the land dragged on for years and reportedly led to several violent confrontations.

“He started suddenly having money and began forcefully claiming lands that were meant to be shared among my father and his siblings.

“He even decided to build a house on one of the lands that had not yet been divided, which made my father furious,” he said.

“The land he claimed shares a boundary with my father’s property. He tried to encroach on my father’s land, but my father refused. That’s where the dispute started.

“On several occasions over the years, he allegedly beat up his father, destroyed his properties, and threatened to seize his father’s house, claiming that because he had money, he could take it over.”

The family member said the situation reached a tragic point on January 1, 2026, when the suspect allegedly attacked his father with a cutlass, leaving him seriously injured.

The elderly man was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia, where he received treatment until he died on January 31.

Chinedu further revealed that the suspect was initially arrested after the January 1 attack but was later released.

He was, however, taken back into custody after his father passed away.

Confirming the incident, the police spokesperson in the state, Maureen Chinaka, said the suspect is currently being held while investigations continue.

“Yes, there is a case under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department.

“The suspect has been apprehended and remains in our custody while the investigation continues,” she said.

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