The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 16-year-old girl identified as Aisha Suleiman, following allegations that she fatally poisoned her ex-boyfriend, Emmanuel, along with four other young men.
The PUNCH reported that the incident took place in the Afashio community, located within Edo State’s Etsako West Local Government Area, and has left the local community reeling with shock.
The tragic discovery occurred on October 26, 2024, when Emmanuel’s father, Mr. Elogie Ezekiel, visited his son’s apartment at around 6:30 a.m.
Upon entering, he stumbled upon a horrific scene with several lifeless bodies in various rooms. In the corridor, Ezekiel first encountered the body of a young man named Nurudeen, who appeared unresponsive.
Determined to find his son, Ezekiel ventured further into the apartment, where he found Emmanuel, 19, and Emmanuel’s girlfriend, 16-year-old Ada Samuel, lying side by side on the bed, both unresponsive and presumed dead.
Two additional friends of Emmanuel’s, identified as brothers Samuel and Jeffrey Ayegwalo, were also discovered motionless in the sitting room.
All five individuals were promptly rushed to a nearby hospital in an effort to save their lives. However, upon arrival, the medical team pronounced each of them dead, confirming the tragedy that had struck the close-knit community.
Local sources disclosed that shortly before their deaths, the group had consumed a pot of pepper soup that Suleiman allegedly prepared for them.
This detail shifted suspicions toward Suleiman, sparking a police investigation. The case took another turn when, three days later, word reached law enforcement that Suleiman was at risk of being lynched by an enraged mob from the community. She was accused of intentionally poisoning the food, a claim that quickly spread and fueled anger among local residents.
Spokesperson for the State Police Command, SP Moses Yamu, explained the intervention, stating, “The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a thorough investigation.” Police officers from the Jattu Division were promptly deployed to prevent any mob action, ensuring Suleiman’s safety and escorting her to the police station.
In response to the public outrage, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Umoru Ozigi, has called for a meticulous investigation to leave no stone unturned.
“We must pursue every possible lead to determine the true cause of death in the case,” he emphasized, urging the community to remain calm and let justice take its course.
CP Ozigi firmly warned against any form of mob justice, assuring residents that the police would handle the matter with diligence and ensure that those responsible, if any, would face due consequences.
The case has brought significant attention to the region, highlighting concerns about youth safety and prompting the local police to reassure the public of their commitment to a just outcome in this troubling situation.
