The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has rescued a young woman from a suspected armed robber and ritualist and has commenced a manhunt for the suspect.
According to a statement by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the incident occurred at a hotel in the Wuse district of Abuja. The 25-year-old victim, Promise Eze, from Ebonyi State, was found tied to a small chair with her mouth covered with plaster. She was unconscious and in distress when officers arrived at the scene on January 31, 2025, after a distress call from hotel staff. The victim was rushed to Wuse District Hospital and later regained consciousness.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Promise Eze had checked into the hotel on January 30 with a man who identified himself as Emmanuel Okoro from Lagos State. However, she later disclosed that they had met online, where he used the alias Michael Prince and claimed to be an oil company employee from Delta State. Initially, the suspect invited her to Delta, but after she declined, they agreed to meet in Abuja.
The suspect allegedly brandished a dagger, threatening and subduing the victim before tying her hands and legs and taping her mouth shut inside the bathroom. He then fled the scene, stealing her two mobile phones. The victim overheard him speaking to suspected accomplices, saying he was returning to the hotel to "finish the job."
The FCT Police Command has launched a full-scale manhunt for the suspect and urged residents, especially young women, to exercise caution when meeting individuals they do not know personally. The police also asked anyone with information to contact them through their emergency lines.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Olatunji Disu, condemned the violence and reassured the public of the police's commitment to safety and security.
