Tragedy struck in Pragati Nagar, Nalasopara East, Maharashtra, as two Nigerian men were arrested for the gruesome murder of fellow Nigerian, Lucky Ikechukwu Ijeh, 32, in the early hours of Sunday, September 21, 2025.
Police identified the suspects as Ayoola Babajide Bartholomew, 50, and Oghene Igere, 47, while a third accomplice, Odia Izu Peculiar, 50, remains at large. Authorities said Lucky was attacked after a heated argument near Monu Grocery Shop, a popular spot among the Nigerian community in the area.
According to witnesses, what began as a verbal dispute quickly turned deadly. “Two of the accused smashed a glass bottle on Lucky’s head and assaulted him with sticks, causing him to bleed to death on the spot,” a police officer said. The exact cause of the argument remains unclear, as bystanders could not understand the language spoken.
The Tulinj Police have registered a murder case under sections 103 (2) and 3 (5) of the Indian Penal Code. “We suspect the accused were rival drug peddlers and the argument was over a business deal,” the officer added.
Bartholomew and Igere were taken into custody shortly after the incident, while Peculiar remains on the run. Police are currently conducting a manhunt to apprehend him.
The shocking incident has sent ripples through the Nigerian community in Pragati Nagar, known for being a close-knit enclave of expatriates.
