US-based Nigerian faces deportation for shooting during dispute with ex-girlfriend

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A 23-year-old Nigerian student in the United States, Godson Oghenebrume, has been sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment and faces deportation after admitting to illegally possessing a firearm and firing multiple shots during a dispute with his ex-girlfriend, who had arrived at his apartment with their infant child.

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The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, Kurt Wall, disclosed this in a statement obtained on Wednesday.

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Wall stated that Oghenebrume was sentenced by U.S. Chief Judge Shelly Dick following his conviction for possession of a firearm by “an alien admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant visa.”

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He added that the convict “is also subject to removal or deportation from the United States upon completion of his sentence.”

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According to the statement, Oghenebrume admitted that “on February 7, 2025, Oghenebrume possessed a Glock model 43X, 9mm pistol, while he was admitted to the US under a non-immigrant F-1 student visa.”

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Giving details of the incident, the US Attorney’s Office said Oghenebrume was in his apartment with another woman when his former girlfriend, who is also the mother of his infant child, arrived at the residence with the baby.

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It stated, “Oghenebrume, who had been in the apartment with another young woman, went outside, and an argument ensued between him and the mother of his child.

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“During this argument, and while the baby was present, Oghenebrume discharged the firearm.”

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Wall stated that the suspect later returned to his apartment, but the argument continued after his ex-girlfriend entered and found him with the other woman.

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He added, “That argument spilled out of the apartment, and Oghenebrume discharged the firearm more times as the mother of his child fled. Multiple bullet strikes were observed in the walls of the apartment complex.”

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He further alleged that Oghenebrume smashed his ex-girlfriend’s phone and took the baby, who had remained present throughout the incident.

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The prosecutors also said Oghenebrume attempted to evade arrest when deputies from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office arrived.

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“Oghenebrume’s ex-girlfriend then approached the other woman, who was attempting to leave, and asked her for help getting the baby. She agreed to help and was able to get the child from Oghenebrume.”

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“When East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the apartment complex, Oghenebrume walked away from them, ignoring their commands, and discarded the Glock model 43X, 9mm pistol into some shrubs. Oghenebrume was detained soon thereafter.”

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According to the statement, a neighbour confirmed hearing gunshots, telling investigators that “his ears had been ringing.”

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He noted that during a post-Miranda interview, detectives asked the Nigerian student why he fired the weapon.

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The statement said, “He claimed that he had wanted his ex-girlfriend to go home and that he had shot the gun to scare her away.”

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Barely a week ago, PUNCH Metro reported that the United States deported a Nigerian national, Ayodeji Ajayi, following multiple criminal convictions, including domestic violence, as part of its ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.

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The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement had stated that Ajayi remained in the country illegally after entering on a student visa nearly two decades ago.

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