The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has rescued a 25-year-old woman, Promise Eze, from a suspected ritualist in a hotel in the Wuse area of Abuja.
The suspect, who fled the scene, is now being hunted by the police.
The police revealed this in a statement on Sunday, signed by the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh. According to the statement, officers received a distress call from the hotel on January 31, 2025, at about 11:30 AM.
“When the operatives arrived at the scene, they found Promise Eze from Ebonyi State tied to a small chair, with her mouth covered in plaster,” the statement read.
“She was unconscious and in distress. Officers immediately freed her and rushed her to Wuse District Hospital, where she was resuscitated.”
Investigations showed that the victim had checked into the hotel on January 30, 2025, with a man who identified himself as Emmanuel Okoro from Lagos State. However, Eze later revealed that she had met the suspect online, where he used the name Michael Prince and claimed to work for an oil company in Delta State.
“She initially refused to meet him in Delta, so they agreed to meet in Abuja,” the statement added.
Instead of a normal meeting, the suspect allegedly attacked Eze with a dagger, tied her hands and legs, and taped her mouth shut in the hotel bathroom before fleeing with her two mobile phones.
Before escaping, he reportedly made a phone call to suspected accomplices, telling them he was regrouping before returning to the hotel to “finish the job.”
The police have now launched a manhunt for the suspect and are urging the public to provide any useful information.
“The Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Olatunji Disu, strongly condemns this act of violence and urges residents, especially young women, to be cautious when meeting strangers,” the statement added.
The police reassured the public that they are committed to ensuring safety and security in the FCT. They also urged anyone with useful information to contact the police through their emergency lines.
