The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Ebonyi State has renewed its call for justice following the tragic killing of 35-year-old Nnenna Onu, who was reportedly murdered by relatives over a family inheritance dispute.
According to reports, the incident occurred in December 2021 in Amagu community, Anike, located in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The victim was allegedly killed and her remains destroyed in a brutal act linked to disagreements over her late father’s property.
Nnenna Onu, a graduate of Public Administration from Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Afikpo, was said to have faced opposition from extended family members after insisting on her right to inherit property despite cultural biases against female heirs.
Sources reveal that her family—made up of her mother and daughters—had earlier been displaced from their family home due to the absence of a male child, further highlighting issues surrounding gender discrimination and inheritance rights in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed the arrest of a key suspect, Chidiebere Okoro, who has since been charged in court and remanded at a correctional facility in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
Speaking on the development, NHRC Ebonyi State Coordinator, Christopher Okorie, criticized the delay in the judicial process and urged the Ebonyi State Government, civil society organisations, and relevant stakeholders to ensure the case is pursued to a just conclusion.
He emphasized that the Commission has consistently monitored the case since 2021 and recently revived efforts in 2026 to ensure accountability and justice for the victim.
Reacting to the development, the victim’s younger sister, Juliet Onu, appealed to Governor Francis Nwifuru to intervene, describing the emotional and social toll the incident has had on their family.
She lamented the continued displacement of their mother and questioned societal norms that deny women their inheritance rights, expressing hope that justice will ultimately prevail.
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