A 25-year-old woman, Promise Eze, was saved by operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command after being restrained and left unconscious by a man she met through an online dating platform.
The suspect, initially introducing himself as Michael Prince, later revealed his true identity as Emmanuel Okoro and is currently on the run, prompting the police to initiate a manhunt for his arrest.
According to a statement from police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh, the authorities received a distress call from a hotel in the Wuse area of the FCT, reporting suspicious activity in one of its rooms. Upon arrival, officers discovered Eze tied to a small chair with her mouth covered in plaster, lying unconscious on the floor.
Eze was promptly taken to Wuse District Hospital for medical attention and resuscitation. “On January 31, 2025, at around 11:30 AM, we received a call from the hotel about unusual occurrences. Our officers acted swiftly and found Promise Eze in a dire situation,” Adeh stated.
Investigations revealed that Eze had checked into the hotel on January 30 with Okoro, whom she had met online. The suspect had portrayed himself as an oil company employee based in Delta State and had invited her to visit him there. When she declined, they agreed to meet in Abuja instead.
Adeh further explained that during the encounter, Okoro threatened Eze with a dagger, binding her hands and feet before covering her mouth and abandoning her in the hotel’s bathroom. He fled the scene after stealing her two mobile phones. Alarmingly, Eze overheard him on the phone with suspected accomplices, indicating plans to return to the hotel.
FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, condemned the incident and urged young women to exercise caution when meeting strangers online. He assured the public that efforts to locate the suspect are ongoing and encouraged anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the police.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with online dating and the importance of safety precautions.
