Panic and outrage gripped Choba, Port Harcourt on Saturday, July 5, 2025, after a woman identified as Cynthia Chikanma allegedly locked her boyfriend inside his apartment and set it ablaze, burning him alive during a heated fallout over their relationship.
The disturbing incident came to light through a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by a user @ChuksEricE, which showed the charred remains of the victim’s room, with furniture reduced to ash and black soot covering the walls and ceiling. Eyewitnesses say Cynthia stormed the apartment following an intense altercation, locked the man inside, and allegedly poured fuel before setting the room on fire.
A chilling voice in the background of the viral video could be heard screaming, “Relationship no be by force o, marriage no be by force o. See wetin one nonsense girl do e boyfriend,” sparking emotional reactions across social media platforms and calls for justice from the public.
Neighbours claimed the couple had been fighting frequently in recent weeks, with allegations of infidelity and threats. One source who spoke to newsmen under anonymity said, “She told people she would deal with him if he ever tried to leave her. Nobody thought she meant this.”
Emergency responders arrived after the flames had ravaged the apartment, only to recover the lifeless, burnt body of the victim, whose identity has not yet been officially disclosed. His remains have been deposited at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) morgue.
Police in Rivers State have yet to release an official statement, but sources within the command confirmed that an investigation has been launched. Cynthia Chikanma is reportedly on the run, and a manhunt has been initiated to apprehend her.
The case has reignited public discourse around toxic relationships, gender-based violence, and the growing number of domestic crime cases across Nigeria. Advocacy groups are demanding swift justice and psychological evaluations for perpetrators in such extreme cases. As one user posted, “This wasn’t love—it was a crime of obsession.”
