The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 21-year-old man, Michael Samuel, for the murder of his girlfriend, whom he met on social media.

The state's Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, said the suspect and the victim met on social media and became friends after chatting for months.

The CP said the suspect subsequently invited the victim to his house in the Ahor axis of Benin City, where he allegedly fatally stabbed her with a knife.

Daaor said the suspect was in police custody and would be charged to court after the completion of the investigation.

However, the suspect, in an interview, said the victim sustained injuries while he was struggling to retrieve a knife she allegedly intended to use against him following an altercation.

"I didn't mean to kill her, but she got injured in the process of struggling with her for the knife during an argument," he said.

He said he met the victim online and became friends with her, adding that after chatting for months, she decided to visit him.

"On the day she came to my house, we were discussing, but the discussion snowballed into an argument. In the process, she picked up a knife and intended to stab me," he said.

He added that the victim sustained an injury to her neck while they were struggling over the knife.

"I didn't mean to kill her. I tried to save her after she was injured, but she died," he said.