The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Ebonyi State has renewed its call for justice over the killing of Nnenna Onu, a 35-year-old woman allegedly murdered in a family inheritance dispute.
The incident, which occurred in December 2021 at Amagu, Anike community in Onicha Local Government Area, reportedly involved relatives opposed to her claim to her late father’s property.
According to the NHRC Coordinator in the state, Christopher Okorie, the case has suffered prolonged delays, prompting renewed advocacy for accountability and justice.
He described the circumstances surrounding the killing as disturbing, noting that the victim’s insistence on inheriting property as a woman may have led to her death.
Onu, a graduate of Public Administration from Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Afikpo was reportedly attacked and her body burnt beyond recognition.
The dispute is said to have stemmed from family tensions, as the deceased and her siblings — all female — were allegedly denied inheritance rights following their father’s death.
Authorities had earlier arrested a suspect, Chidiebere Okoro, who is currently in custody at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre after being arraigned in court.
Okorie said the commission has been monitoring the case since 2021 and recently intensified efforts to ensure progress in the matter.
He called on the Ebonyi State Government civil society organisations, the Nigeria Police Force, and the media to collaborate in ensuring justice is served.
Meanwhile, the victim’s younger sister, Juliet Onu, appealed to Governor Francis Nwifuru to intervene in the case.
She described the family’s situation as difficult, revealing that their mother has been displaced from her matrimonial home for years following the dispute.
Juliet lamented what she described as discrimination against women in inheritance matters, expressing hope that justice would eventually prevail.
The case has reignited conversations around women’s inheritance rights in Nigeria particularly in communities where cultural practices limit property ownership by female children.
