‘Dr. Ikenna Held My Daughter And Her Children At Gunpoint Before Suicide’ – Father In-law, Francis Van-Lare Gives Chilling Details Of The Incident

The sad story of a US-based Nigerian medical doctor and father, Ikenna Erinne who committed suicide hits the internet a few days ago and conflicting reports have emerged about the reason for his action.
The tragic death of the 36-year-old cardiologist sparked intense debate and widespread reactions from Nigerians both at home and abroad.
Initially believed to have taken his own life due to financial strain from a $15,000 monthly child support ruling, new revelations suggest that his final moments were far more disturbing.
According to online reports, Dr. Ikenna took his life after a court ruling in favor of his ex-wife in a child support case.
The tragic incident was reported to have occurred on Sunday, January 26. He lost the case when a U.S. court allegedly ordered him to pay $15,000 in monthly child support, friends of the deceased claimed online.
Now, Francis Van-Lare, a US-based Nigerian businessman popular for previously being married to relationship coach, Amara Nwosu, has revealed that the late doctor was his daughter, Suzette Chibuogu‘s ex-husband and father of her children.
He claimed that Dr Ikenna from Anambra State who was practising in the United States, took his own life after losing a custody battle.
Van-Lare alleged that Dr. Erinne had gone to his daughter’s house on the fateful day and held her, their children, and the nanny at gunpoint for three hours.
He claimed the nanny finally managed to escape and reported to the police and Erinne decided to shoot himself dead when the police arrived instead of facing “three counts of kidnapping with a deadly weapon” which carries a sentence of “25 years to life on each count”.
Van-Lare, a socialite and public figure, issued the statement on his official Facebook account on Sunday, after his daughter and her former partner’s story made it to the internet, with many mourning Dr. Erinne and remembering him as a calm and brilliant man.
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This was also in response to an earlier post by Facebook user Amanda Chisom, who clarified that Erinne’s ex-partner was not a white woman, as widely speculated, but Van-Lare’s daughter.
In the Facebook comment addressing speculations surrounding his daughter’s involvement, Van-Lare provided chilling details of the incident.
He wrote,
“While my daughter was involved in a custody battle, I only became aware around 3am Nigerian time last Monday that the deceased held her and her children at gunpoint for three hours after losing the case.
“The nanny managed to escape and called the police, and upon their arrival, he shot himself.
“I guess he decided to kill himself instead of facing the charges.”
Despite the shocking nature of the incident, Van-Lare expressed sympathy for the late doctor’s family, clarifying that his daughter was not responsible for his decision to take his own life.
“While I sympathise with his family, my daughter is not to blame for his death. And I thank God it did not escalate to where he shot my daughter, grandchildren, and himself,”
the father-in-law stated.
Concluding his statement, he acknowledged the deep trauma the situation has caused for all involved:
He concluded,
“May his soul rest in peace. Everyone is a loser here. It is traumatising for all, including me. No winners here.”
Amid the tragedy, misinformation spread rapidly, with many Nigerians believing Erinne’s ex-partner was a white woman who had used the legal system against him.
However, Chisom debunked these claims, revealing that the mother of his children is actually an Igbo woman—the daughter of Francis Van-Lare.
She wrote,
“Ikenna did not marry a white woman. He had children with an Igbo woman, Francis Van-Lare’s daughter. However, they were never married. He called off the wedding, largely due to family concerns.”
She described Erinne as a quiet and reserved man, noting that his personality may have contributed to how he handled his struggles.
“Ikenna was always too quiet for his own good. If you pushed him, he would simply walk away. He was unassuming and a true gift to his generation,”
she continued.
Her revelation shifted the conversation, igniting fresh discussions on marriage, family structures, and mental health struggles among Nigerian men abroad.
Chisom also used the tragedy to highlight the importance of evaluating a partner’s background before commitment.
She cautioned against making decisions based solely on emotions, emphasising the lasting impact of family values and upbringing. Chisom further stated,
“This tragedy serves as a harsh reminder of why it is essential to ask questions and do thorough background checks before marriage.
“It is not enough to be carried away by beauty, intelligence, or temporary affection. A person’s upbringing, family values, and personal history play a significant role in shaping their character.”
She further warned against marrying individuals from dysfunctional homes, arguing that unresolved trauma often affects their ability to sustain relationships.
“If possible, avoid marrying someone from a broken home. The foundation of a person’s family often influences their ability to build and sustain their own. If a home was built on chaos, unresolved trauma, or a lack of unity, chances are those patterns will repeat,”
her post stated.