The Edo State Police Command has detained a 16-year-old girl, Aisha Suleiman, suspected of fatally poisoning her ex-boyfriend, Emmanuel, and four other young men in the Afashio community of Etsako West Local Government Area.
This tragedy, which has shaken the community, was discovered on the morning of October 26, when Emmanuel’s father, Mr. Elogie Ezekiel, found the lifeless bodies of the five victims in his son’s apartment.
Ezekiel reportedly arrived at Emmanuel’s home around 6:30 a.m. and was confronted with a devastating sight. The first body he discovered was that of Nurudeen, a young man found unresponsive in the corridor. Upon entering the bedroom, he found his son, Emmanuel, 19, and Emmanuel’s girlfriend, Ada Samuel, also 16, lying together on the bed, both apparently lifeless. In the sitting room, two of Emmanuel’s friends and siblings, Samuel and Jeffrey Ayegwalo, were also discovered unresponsive. All five victims were rushed to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
Community sources revealed that the group had recently consumed a pot of pepper soup reportedly prepared by Suleiman, leading to suspicion of deliberate poisoning.
Three days after the discovery, police received reports of an attempt by young men from the community to lynch Suleiman, who had allegedly been identified as the primary suspect. Officers from the Jattu Division were dispatched to intervene, rescuing her from potential mob action and bringing her safely to the police station.
Police Public Relations Officer SP Moses Yamu confirmed that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a comprehensive investigation. Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police CP Umoru Ozigi has ordered a full inquiry, instructing officers to exhaust all leads to uncover the true cause of death. He also urged the community to refrain from any form of mob justice, assuring them that the police are committed to a thorough investigation.
CP Ozigi stated, “We ask the public to allow our officers to perform their duties. Justice will be pursued with diligence, and we urge the community to cooperate with law enforcement.”
