Family of Victor Umeh shared grief and devastation after he was shot and killed in Nigeria

The family of an Adelaide man are grappling with his sudden death after he was gunned down in the rain on a trip to see his wife and daughter.

Valentine Umeh holds a photo of his brother of Victor, pictured with his wife Cynthia and daughter Adanna. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

An Adelaide father and husband was shot dead while holidaying in his hometown last month, with his family now grappling for answers over the brutal death.

Victor Umeh had packed up his life in Nigeria in hopes of building a new one in Adelaide 11 years ago, leaving behind his friends and family.

The disability support worker was in the final stages of fulfilling his long-term plan to permanently relocate his wife Cynthia and daughter Adanna, 8, to South Australia after they stayed behind.

Around mid-April, Mr Umeh travelled to Enugu State in Nigeria’s southeast to visit his family and friends, and had planned on returning in late May.

But on the night of Saturday, June 7, his life tragically ended when he was brutally gunned down on the side of the road.

Victor Umeh with his wife Cynthia and daughter Adanna. Picture: Image/Russell Millard Photography

Father and husband, Victor Umeh was vacationing in his hometown in Nigeria when he was shot and killed. Picture: Facebook

The 46-year-old’s brother Valentine Umeh, 45, received a phone call from their other brother on the Sunday morning, notifying him of Victor’s death.

“I couldn’t understand what was happening. I was confused,” Mr Umeh said,

Victor’s car is still parked in the driveway of his Salisbury North home, he said.

On the fateful night, Victor was invited to a hotel for a drink by two of his childhood friends.

“It was immediately after they left the hotel. I heard that he stopped … at the roadside,” Mr Umeh said, adding it was raining heavily.

“Immediately after he pulled off on to the roadside corner, some men accosted him with their own car, and held him at gun point.

“They held him, took the car keys from him, put him in the back of the car.”

The men then entered the car and tried to drive off while still holding Victor at gunpoint in the back seat.

“They probably came to kidnap him and they wanted to take him along with that car but the car didn’t start because of the security (settings),” Mr Umeh said.

“Next thing … they put him out (of the car) again and shot him.”

The attackers stole Victor’s phone and wallet before shooting him in the leg and stomach then driving off in their own car.

Tragically, he died on the side of the road.

Valentine Umeh is mourning the loss of his brother who was killed in Nigeria. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Mr Umeh said the family was working with police and had hired a private investigator to search for his brother’s killers.

“We are not even sure if these people are truly kidnappers or they came to kill (him),” he said.

“We are confused, we don’t know what their mission was. (It’s) giving us a kind of concern that his wife and the child are not safe there.”

Mr Umeh believes Victor was randomly targeted because he never associated with “bad people” or “looked for trouble”

Instead, he described him as a “cool and calm person” with a “good personality”.

“He had that kind of charisma, he liked giving, he liked to help whenever he can, he was very good with associating with people,” he said.

“I’ll miss (that) brotherly affection and everything. We are missing him seriously, I don’t think that we could ever forget his role in our family.”

In his honour, a candlelight vigil will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Goodwood on Wednesday at 6pm.