The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has successfully rescued a young woman from the hands of a suspected armed robber and ritualist.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
According to the statement, the incident took place at a hotel in Wuse, Abuja, where 25-year-old Promise Eze, from Ebonyi State, was found bound to a small chair with her mouth covered by plaster. She was unconscious and visibly distressed when police officers arrived at the scene on January 31, 2025, following an emergency call from the hotel staff. The victim was promptly transported to Wuse District Hospital, where she regained consciousness.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim had checked into the hotel on January 30 with a man who had introduced himself as Emmanuel Okoro from Lagos State. However, she later revealed that they had met online, and the suspect had used the alias Michael Prince, claiming to work for an oil company based in Delta State.
The statement further clarified: “The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has successfully rescued a young woman from the clutches of a suspected armed robber and ritualist, launching an immediate manhunt for the fleeing suspect.
“On January 31, 2025, at approximately 11:30 AM, the Command received a distress call from a hotel in the Wuse area of the FCT, reporting suspicious activity in one of their rooms. Responding swiftly, police operatives arrived at the scene and discovered a 25-year-old woman, Promise Eze, from Ebonyi State, tied to a small chair with her mouth covered in plaster. She was found unconscious and in distress. Officers acted immediately, freeing her from captivity and rushing her to Wuse District Hospital, where she was resuscitated.
“Preliminary investigations revealed a disturbing pattern of deception and violence. The victim had checked into the hotel a day earlier, on January 30, 2025, at about 7:00 AM, in the company of a man who identified himself as Emmanuel Okoro from Lagos State. However, during police questioning, the victim disclosed that she had met the suspect online, where he introduced himself under the alias Michael Prince, claiming to be an oil company employee based in Delta State. Initially, he invited her to Delta, but after she declined, they agreed to meet in Abuja.
“Tragically, what was meant to be an innocent meeting turned into a harrowing ordeal. The suspect allegedly brandished a dagger, using it to threaten and subdue the victim before restraining her by tying her hands and legs and taping her mouth shut inside the bathroom. He then fled the scene, stealing her two mobile phones.
“Alarmingly, before escaping, the victim overheard him speaking to suspected accomplices over the phone, informing them that he was on his way to regroup before returning to the hotel to ‘finish the job.’”
The FCT Police Command emphasized that they are fully committed to locating the suspect.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Olatunji Disu, psc, has strongly condemned the act of violence, urging residents—particularly young women—to exercise caution when engaging with unfamiliar individuals.
The CP also reassured the public of the Command’s commitment to safety, while calling on anyone with information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts to contact the police immediately through the following numbers: Emergency Lines: 08032003913 and Complaint Response Unit: 08107314192..
